The Living Word

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday, February 16th, 2025:
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Psalm 1

Blessed the one who trusts in the Lord.

Blessed is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law meditates day and night. 

Blessed the one who trusts in the Lord.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaves do not wither. And everything he does, prospers. 

Blessed the one who trusts in the Lord.

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away, for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. 

Blessed the one who trusts in the Lord.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Wouldn’t it be lovely to have an instruction manual for life—a book that would not only offer insight, guidance, and wisdom, but also tell the truth about one’s life? This truth of which I speak is not a changeable truth that is only for a certain time in history or a certain people group, but rather is the absolute Truth (with a capital ‘T’), intended for all humankind, for all time. This Truth would convey, among other things, the reality of one’s identity as loved, valued, and cherished, one’s life as part of a greater plan, and one’s purpose in loving God, others, and self.

Alas, we do have such a book—the Living Word of God. Psalm 1 is in many ways a blueprint for life. It points us away from following the advice of the wicked, walking the path of sinners, or sitting in the seat of scoffers. Instead, it points us toward the law of the Lord, which ultimately includes all of Scripture. 

As we read the living word of God with a listening posture, the Holy Spirit pulls back the curtain and opens our minds, hearts and spirits to the revelations contained within. As we meditate on the Word, not only does understanding deepen, but so too does our relationship and intimacy with the Lord. 

Perhaps that is why the response to the Psalm is “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord”. We cannot fully trust someone we don’t know. As we spend time with the Word (it is noteworthy that John’s Gospel also reveals Jesus as the Word; see John 1:1), the love story God has for us unfolds. Like a multi-faceted diamond, God’s beautiful character and heart are revealed through His Word. We encounter a God who is faithful, merciful, just, filled with grace, and fully encompasses love. In fact, He is love. God is saviour, redeemer, rock and shelter, our hope and refuge. As we come to know God, albeit in our limited human way, trust, which may initially be but a sprout, grows and blossoms. Our trust is rooted not in answered prayers, but rather in the character and faithfulness of our loving God.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, regardless of life’s circumstances and seasons. We each experience new seasons and times of transition, be it the beginning or end of a relationship, raising and releasing children, retirement, illness, or loss. Yet, there is an assurance that as we extend our roots to the only source which can truly feed us, there will be fruit in its season and the leaves will not wither. Why? Because our Lord is faithful and we can trust in Him, now and forever.





Lisa Wing

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