30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
R. The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.
Written by Eric Wilkes
I heard it on a retreat once and it’s stayed with me ever since. The lover never tires of saying “I love you” and the beloved never tires of hearing it. Today’s psalm reminded me of a God and his people in love. Like a bride lovingly gazing back at her husband as he serves her. This is the position of the church in today’s psalm. We look back lovingly at God as he constantly seeks to serve us as his bride through his salvific work. And we are understandably unable to contain the joy and excitement of all that he’s done for us.
Something I am so grateful for is my wife's ability to truly rejoice in the things I do for her. I never expect anything in return, I simply look for ways to love her and serve her the best I can. And she reciprocates that so well. I’ll never forget our engagement. Thankfully, I had the privilege of being the best man at my friend's wedding in London, which afforded me an opportunity to suggest she and I go on a short trip to Rome after the wedding. We attended mass with Pope Francis on the feast of the Epiphany and later that evening I proposed to her in the Vatican. For the next month or so the way she looked at me, the ring and other people when she told the story in person was priceless. She was filled with joy and it was contagious. And today I see this same joy all over this psalm. It is a deep sigh of relief. The beloved is resting in the love of the lover.
The psalmist goes on to write about a victory God had won for them in a battle. I love the line, “we were like men dreaming.” How often does it feel like a dream come true when we have the grace to internalize the deep love God has for us and the immense internal and external victories He’s won for us. Even when we stop to consider how rare it is to even exist, we realize God fought for us to be here on this earth for a reason and to discover that with Him. What an absolute dream it is to be able to be here and to receive the love of God and share in His victory over sin and death.
So just as we never grow tired of hearing “I love you” from our Bridegroom, so too we should never grow tired of recalling the great things God has done for us. We should never grow tired of sharing what he’s done for us. And not only the gospel message found in sacred scriptures, but also in our individual lives. Journaling is a great way to do this on a daily basis. I’ll admit I have a bookshelf full of empty journals because while I know of its benefits, I rarely do it on a consistent basis. But one thing I have done is started a book dedicated to the big victories or moments when I’ve seen God show up in my life. That could be something that was overcome, some way He provided, something He protected you from, some consolation, some clarity in discernment, etc. Taking time to look back at the ways God has taken care of you is always a great idea. Today let’s take a moment to remember the good things God has done in our lives and be filled with His immense and unending joy.
1. What are some great things God has done for me in my life?
2. What is one thing weighing on me right now that I can offer to him?
3. Who is someone God might be calling me to share with them what He’s done in my life?
Eric Wilkes is a Louisiana-born and Chicago-based artist, musician and producer serving churches, communities, and ministries on an international level. He has been an artist, writer, co-writer, instrumentalist, and producer for several projects through NOVUM RECORDS, and is a part of the indie rock duo NOVUM. When he’s not playing music, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Cori, his family, and his close friends relaxing and enjoying good conversations. When Eric needs medicine for his soul he finds it in new places, sunny days, trips to the ocean, chai tea lattes, playing piano in empty churches and late night adoration chapel visits. Check out his music on Spotify an dApple Music, and follow Eric on Instagram.
Pray with today’s psalm.