Fr. Don's Daily Reflection - April 20, 2024
Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”
The text is read in church once every three years. It must raise an eyebrow or two as people hear it: “Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of a hireling?” (Job 7:1) For many, life is certainly not a drudgery. For others, the expression sounds too defeatist; it seems impossible that any of us would settle for that view. Then there are those for whom life truly is drudgery. We comfortable people tend to forget or ignore them. Those who must take the most distasteful tasks in order to survive even minimally know drudgery.
Oddly enough even among the comfortable there are instances of people who feel the truth of Job's words. Illness, a simple cold, boredom, depression, severe crises can take all the zest out of life. We might have to be patient with others who feel this way or even with ourselves in such circumstances. But otherwise, while we are free of such hazards and possessed of some faith, we can bring to our environment and associates some cheer, joy, comfort even. Gratitude for not having a life of drudgery prompts us to share our blessedness with others. In the disheartening residue of the virus, many of us can call on our reasons for gratitude to offer hope to others.
Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”
