Blessing The Blesser

A Reflection on the Psalm for March 24th, 2019:
Third Sunday of Lent

​Psalm 103

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits. R.

It is the Lord who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy. R.

The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. R.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. R.

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I find it strange to bless the Lord. Who am I to bless anyone (other than those who sneeze) let alone our Lord? Then I’m reminded of the context of my words and what I’m really saying:
 
I magnify you Lord; I worship and praise you.
 
In that way, the blessing is more of an awareness of how much and how often I need to honour the Lord  from the depths of my soul.  

"[T]he blessing is more of an awareness of how much and how often I need to honour the Lord  from the depths of my soul."  

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I agree with the psalmist about how important it is to always remember all the acts of kindness which have been bestowed upon me. It’s within this attitude of gratitude that leads me to be in awe of how the hand of the Lord is always upon me; guiding and protecting me from mostly myself, really. It’s true, I can be my own worst enemy at times. Especially when I go into my day forgetting who I am and whose I am. It’s only when I find myself struggling that I realize how much of "me" is in that moment and how little there is of "God".
 
I fall into the abyss whenever I turn a blind eye to those in need; whenever I complain about others or find fault in them; whenever I respond out of anger or greed or entitlement. There are really so many ways to fall and yet I am redeemed each and every time by a God who crowns me with His faithful love and tenderness. A God who is slow to anger and rich in faithful love.
 
As undeserving as I am to receive such bountiful love, I am grateful to be in a relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who never gives up on me and who continues to call me back to Himself on a regular basis. I do praise you Lord Jesus, and I bless you, for you are a mighty and powerful God; my love and my Saviour. Amen.

​Patricia Cosgrove

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