Exuberance in Abundance

A Reflection on the Psalm for June 9th, 2019:
The Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday

Psalm 104

R. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great. O Lord, how manifold are your works! The earth is full of your creatures. 

R. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

When you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. 

R. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the Lord endure for-ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. 

R. Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

---

I’ve always liked the word “abundant.” It has a delightful onomatopoeic quality. When I drop my jaw to say ah-BUN-dant, I think of plenty. In school, in the 1970s, we learned the hymn New Life by Carey Landry, and I always rose up exuberantly on my toes when we sang the syllable “bun” in the line: “We find such joy in your abundant life.” The idea that exuberance and abundance were connected definitely resonated with me as a child.

This week we are celebrating the Feast of Pentecost, so it is fitting we should be singing Psalm 104, which is a hymn to the God of abundance: Lord God, how great You are! How many are Your works! The earth is full of Your riches! Your spirit renews (not just a bit of the earth but) the entire face of the earth!

Psalm 104 praises a mighty God, a forever God, a God who is not only bigger than life but who is the very essence of life. Everything created is animated by His “spirit,” a word that derives from the Latin verb spīrāre, which means “breath.” The Lord breathes life into our bodies, and we are created. He passes His hand over the earth, and it springs into life, its lands a carpet of lushness and its waters teeming with fish. The Lord is essential to vitality. Without the breath of God, everything expires and collapses into dust.

"The Lord is essential to vitality. Without the breath of God, everything expires and collapses into dust."

Tweet

Like all living creatures, I am animated by the breath of God, who breathed life into me when my life began and who continues to gives me the gift of life every day. And every day He calls me to use that gift for the sake of others. So I ask myself: How do I do that?

As in all things, God gives me what I need. One very important way God allows me to bring life to others is through supporting those with whom I have close family relationships and friendships. Another way is through ministry. A third, very important way, is through acts of service. Lately, a few people have asked me for favours—and I am so grateful to them! Through their ask, they have allowed God to present me with a ready-made opportunity to serve Him. And, in most cases, these were easy things for me to do.

I’m no saint. God knows I can be blind, unmotivated and self-absorbed so, in His mercy, He saves me from the consequences of my faults by sending messengers into my life who remind me that I am here to serve. Being of service to others breathes life into me, life that is abundant with gratitude, exuberance and love.

Bless you, Lord! How many are Your works! May You rejoice in them all!

​Donna Davis

---