22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Written by Megan Ourso
So often in my life I have felt the need to prove myself. Here are some examples of what used to be my inner dialogue. “If I complete this task perfectly, I will be praised.” “If I figure out the exact formula, things will run smoothly.” “If I am interesting, that person will want to hang out with me.” “If I pray these exact words, God will notice me and maybe even answer my prayer.” I looked for a way to gauge how I was doing. It is a wound the Lord has patiently been healing over the past year, thankfully.
Friends, the good news is I have nothing to prove. You have nothing to prove either, especially to the Father. His Gaze is already on us. We do not have to do anything and everything, nor are we called to do it all. That would be an exhausting existence. We know the Good Shepherd leads us to rest.
Still, how can we know that we are in the Lord’s Presence on this side of Heaven? What is the uncomplicated answer? The Lord is simple. Psalms like this one give us some insight, and it too is simple: “The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.” It is not that this Psalm is saying, “if you do this, then God will do that.” It is a reminder that if we are following God’s commandments and truly trying to live a life with Him at the center, we are on the right track. Doing justice is just that, exhibiting just behavior and treatment and following God’s law. “Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed” (v. 5). The Lord speaks in peace. Personally, I think that is a sign of His Presence. And His sweet Presence, communion with Him, that is the ultimate goal. How great our Lord is that we can get a taste of that on this side of Heaven!
St. Ignatius of Loyola is the mastermind behind the Discernment of Spirits. One component of this teaching is a daily Examen. There are different levels of depth an Examen can go into, but what it boils down to is this: Where did I encounter God today, and how did I respond? Try making this a part of your daily routine for a few days to a week.
I encourage you to go to Eucharistic Adoration and sit quietly in the Lord’s Presence.
Megan Ourso works as an appraiser in southeast Louisiana. She has always been fascinated by stories and is an avid reader and writer. Follow Megan on Instagram.
Pray with today’s psalm.