In this reflection we consider Psalm 91 and Psalm 118 as a way to enter into learning what all psalms are saying. This is a helpful process for cantors and readers who proclaim the psalm when the Church gathers for prayer. It is also helpful for all who want to take up the psalms as our prayer, finding in these texts words for our experiences when we have no words.
We considered the Michel Guimont setting of Psalm 91 found at #496 Catholic Book of Worship III and the Christopher Walker setting of Psalm 118.
The reflection provides some questions for deep soul searching, prayer, and response to God.
The poignant questions of the reflection are:
How has God given you life?
Scan your life. Where do you find God's gift of life in the contours of your own living?
How has God raised you up?
Is God truly your strength and your saviour?
If not, what or who is?
How have you experienced God as your strength? Your saviour?
...and if you can't identify God's presence and action in your life...? Look a little further The eyes and ears of faith allow us to identify these contours of the divine presence.
This is absolutely brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI agree! This is definitely a different way of doing the Retreat, but what's great is that you can look and reflect on each of the reflections at any time of day or night.
DeleteThis was a beautiful way to end my day. Thank you! G.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago the words of Psalm 91 were sung at my parish on the First Sunday of Lent. Oh how they related to my life that day! Several years later I shared this with the music director, again on the first Sunday of Lent, and he shared his own story of what these words meant to him. It was an incredible moment to know that, although very different experiences, these words had meaning for each of us...and somehow that knowledge was woven into how they were sung that day.
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