Praise and Gratitude

A Reflection on the Psalm for June 27th, 2021:
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Psalm 30

R. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.

I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit. 

R. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment; his favour is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning. 

R. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.

Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper! You have turned my mourning into dancing. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever. 

R. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.
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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

This psalm sings praises to the Lord. It speaks of victories, of dreams realized, of happiness and joy — of gratitude. It does not only praise, it extols! The dictionary says that to extol is to glorify, to give the highest praise, to praise enthusiastically.

After reading this psalm, I spent some time recounting the bountiful blessings that I have received, the many times that I surmounted challenges that I thought I would not overcome, the grief that I thought I would not get over and the completed tasks that once seemed overwhelming. During those times, I called on the Lord, on the Holy Trinity actually, to come to my aid. Indeed, my prayers were answered. All of them. Not always in the way that I prayed for, but answered nonetheless.

Being grateful for all of our blessings is often neglected and forgotten in the rejoicing that follows an answered prayer. I now understand why many people say ‘Praise the Lord’ or ‘Praise God’ so many times. I used to dismiss those praises as rantings of over enthusiastic religious fanatics! Was I ever wrong! I am sorry, I stand corrected! If we truly understand and realize what the Lord has done for us, we really should be shouting these praises! For God is good indeed! So good that we don’t deserve it!


For those times that I was delivered from my grief in losing loved ones... I praise the Lord!

For health challenges that strengthened my faith and trust in Him… I praise the Lord!

For finding the words to say in writing this reflection… I praise the Lord!
 
For keeping us safe from sickness during this time… I praise the Lord!

For work challenges which bring me closer to Him… I praise the Lord!

For my parish, my faith community… I praise the lord.

For the countless blessings that I have received: my family and loved ones, and so many other blessings... I thank and praise the Lord!
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“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thessalonians 5:16-18)




Liz Venezuela
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