Renewal: Scary but Necessary

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, June 8th, 2025:
Solemnity of Pentecost

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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.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

What does it mean for God to “renew the face of the earth”? Among other things, renewal means bringing about a change from what was. 

To be honest, I’m not a big fan of change, but God frequently brings about renewal or change in our lives. Why? Through discernment over the last couple of weeks, I’ve come to understand that, when big changes loom large in the future, it’s a reminder to us that our God is constant and unchanging. We do not need to fear the unknown, as we have a known and trusted God who never leaves our side.

As we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, it is worth pondering the renewal or change that the disciples went through on that day. In human terms, they were going to go out and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ to a culture that was hostile. They did so fearlessly, not on their own merit but by the power and strength given to them by the Holy Spirit. Similarly, when we go through seasons of change or periods of renewal, we can be assured that the same Spirit who descended upon the disciples is helping us to adapt to the changes that we anticipated as well as the changes we never imagined could take place. 

Psalm 104 is a good reminder that renewal is a gift from God, and it is something that all our predecessors have faced. In times of uncertainty, when things ahead seem fearful and scary, we need only “trust in the Lord, and lean not on our own understanding.” Our Lord Jesus Christ, who sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with His disciples, will also send the Holy Spirit to abide with us as we surf the tides of change. 

Let us rejoice in the Lord, knowing that He does not bring things our way that will crush us. Instead, He is constantly by our side through every challenge, strengthening our faith and loving us beyond our understanding. 

Ultimately, it is only God who knows why we need renewal at times, even though we may have been content with the way things were going. 

Heavenly Father, I trust in you. Lord Jesus, I trust in you. Holy Spirit, I trust in you.


Rebecca D’Mello

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