Thursday ....

Today is Thursday, January, 30, 2014.

Good Morning.

A thought for the day:
O God, when confronted by mystery, help us to remember that we do not have to explain all we know or understand or believe.


The Church’s 1st reading for today: 2 Samuel chapter 7 verses 18-19; 24-29

After Nathan had spoken to King David,
the king went in and sat before the LORD and said,
“Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house,
that you have brought me to this point?
Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD;
you have also spoken of the house of your servant
for a long time to come:
this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD!

“You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever,
and you, LORD, have become their God.
And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made
concerning your servant and his house,
and do as you have promised.
Your name will be forever great, when men say,
‘The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,’
and the house of your servant David stands firm before you.
It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel,
who said in a revelation to your servant,
‘I will build a house for you.’
Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.
And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth;
you have made this generous promise to your servant.
Do, then, bless the house of your servant
that it may be before you forever;
for you, Lord GOD, have promised,
and by your blessing the house of your servant
shall be blessed forever.”

*****

David goes into the tent which housed the Ark of the Covenant and sat before the Lord. This attitude of devotion seems not to be mentioned elsewhere, but it is a characteristic posture of prayer in the ancient East.

Both David and his nation were "on a roll". The enemies of the past were crushed (especially the Philistines); the Israelite tribes were uniting and beginning to prosper; and now Jerusalem had become the religious center.

David now ponders it all. This portion of the text is referred to as "David's Prayer". It is a chance to reflect, a chance to pause for thought, a time to sort everything out. Good prayer - nourishing prayer - will do that. All of us need to take time to pause and reflect, to "center ourselves" and really listen to our lives.

David's prayer is a natural response to the promises that had been made to him and to the success of his kingdom. His prayer includes many things. But these three most clearly: humility, praise, and acknowledgment.

Are these three elements found in your everyday prayer?


God bless,
Father Pat