Taste and See

​A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, August 18th, 2024:
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

---

Psalm 34

​R. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 

​R. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 

​R. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Which of you desires life, and covets many days to enjoy good? 

​R. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 

​​R. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I remember my first taste of faith. I remember the phrase I heard at church that got me thinking; that intrigued and compelled me with its mystery. It was the phrase, “as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be”. I thought, what is this, that has always been? This God, whom I can’t comprehend, much less explain; this force of goodness and love? What is this? I was drawn in by the idea of this eternal God, who is apparently Goodness, Mercy, and Love itself.

I also remember being skeptical. I thought, if God is indeed something or someone, then how does He love, and why does His love even matter? I love people in my life and people love me, but surely I do not need to be loved by this mysterious being whose mere existence is called into question by so many. Eventually, I came to admit that God’s love mattered to me, because I realized deep in my heart that I really did need Love! I needed a Love even beyond that which other people could give me. And sometimes, I needed a Mercy that was beyond myself in order to love others (and even myself!). 

So, I sought the Lord — I sought this ultimate and eternal force of love and goodness who transcends time and space — and I threw myself off the cliff of life and into His arms. I was the poor one; I called and He heard. I was not (and I’m still not) immediately saved from every trouble; but I now know that regardless of my circumstances, following a path of love will ultimately lead me to a place of peace. 

Following a path of love and virtue is challenging, and I fail all the time, because there are many wounds in my heart which cause me to either act or avoid. Praying with God’s Word — taking refuge in Love — has helped me to see these wounds, and to see myself as He intends me to be; to see my life as He intends it to be. This brings healing and restoration, and delivers me more and more each day into the freedom to love others better.

Praise for the Lord shall continually be in my mouth — because I have tasted and seen that Love is good. 



​Lindsay Elford

---