Fr. Don's Daily Reflection - August 3, 2024
Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”
A thoroughgoing literalist would be shocked to hear you tell your friend Liz who is about to play her first part on the stage: “Break a leg.” People acquainted with the theater know it's an old saying wishing a person success. But literally, of course, it would mean causing a serious fracture of the tibia or the femur. We often think of literalism as a tendency among some who read or hear the Bible but it can be more general.
Among Catholics literalism is present in regard to Scripture but otherwise, too. It inhibits our way of being present at Mass, for instance. There is a tendency to think we must somehow pay absolute attention to each word of the Mass in order to be a fervent participant. Even though we have since the Second Vatican Council much more variety in these prayers than formerly, they still become very familiar to us.
Consequently, we find ourselves thinking of that golf game or dinner last night while the priest is praying: “Father, we bring you these gifts. We ask you to make them holy....” Or, we're at Mass with little children climbing over the pews or running up and down the aisles; before we know it the Mass is over and we can't remember a thing.
We don't have to be following along with each word of the Mass to be present; our intention to be present at the remembrance of the sacrifice and death of the Lord suffices. The distracted parent is certainly offering God praise by caring for those children.
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!”
