''Strength Training'': A Reflection on the Psalm for November 4th, 2018: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

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PSALM 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.

I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.

R.  I love you, Lord, my strength.

My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies.

R.   I love you, Lord, my strength.

The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock! Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed.

R.  I love you, Lord, my strength.

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​A bright 12 year old girl, who when faced with betrayal and ridicule from someone she thought was a friend, turned to the Lord to see herself, and that “friend”, with new and compassionate eyes. 
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An intuitive group of friends who rallied around a mom with support and loving action in a moment when her patience with her cranky flu stricken 1-year-old was painfully close to the breaking point.

A strong man nearing the end of his ministry, inundated with complaints and challenges to his leadership, yet continuing to try with all his might to faithfully care for the people that have been entrusted to him. 

These are all people that I have had the privilege of being around in the last couple of weeks. To me, they have been examples of strength. Not the kind that comes from a sort of strength training like lifting weights at the gym— though some of them do may do that. But rather, the kind of strength that comes from faith: a deep and abiding faith in a God who is Love.

"The psalmist is clear that our Lord wants nothing more than to love us, and asks only for our love in return."

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​The psalmist is clear that our Lord wants nothing more than to love us, and asks only for our love in return. Early in my faith journey and ministry, I thought that love was earned through my actions. So I kept active, and did a lot. However, at the same time I would often say to those I served, as well as to those with whom I served, that we could not strengthen others if we didn’t have strength ourselves. Ironically, I often forgot to practice what I preached. I would get caught up in the busyness of “church work”. The busyness that I created—instead of allowing God to be busy through me. I still struggle with this. I like to call it the Martha Syndrome. As in the Martha who complained to Jesus about Mary’s lack of “busyness” (Luke 10.38-42). Yet we need both. We need Martha’s vigour to physically do God’s work, and we need Mary’s ability to sit still and allow God to work on and through us. In being strong enough to simply sit still with God, I create the space to see beyond myself and also to recognize God’s love strengthening the people I encounter everyday. In turn, they strengthen me.

"In being strong enough to simply sit still with God, I create the space to see beyond myself and also to recognize God’s love strengthening the people I encounter everyday. In turn, they strengthen me."

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The psalms are a response to God working in the lives of His chosen people. As part of our Liturgy of the Word in our Eucharistic celebrations, the psalm is a response to God’s Word proclaimed in the First Reading. Let's practice a different kind of strength training, where we respond to God’s love expressed in his Word by lifting up that Word and allowing it to strengthen us enough to strengthen others.

​Aurea Sadi