Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”

The very upbeat hymn caught my attention -- “We build a new tomorrow” -- as I looked on Sunday morning TV while away from home. It was a broadcast of the Sunday morning service of a very well-known preacher, accused at times of pollyanna-ism. And the production is certainly slick, smooth and clean. But, granted all that with whatever negative overtone that brings, the service is encouraging, inspiring.

I can see how it would be a welcome bit of refreshment for the crowd of people who are there, who have gone through five or six days of drudgery and worry, battling traffic and dealing with testy people, doing repetitive and boring work, unhappy over a failed relationship. Such an encouraging and lively service would only be wrong, I think, if it meant we simply and completely ignore the seamier and sadder side of reality. Just to face that -- and it is either in us or around us, for sure -- requires the strength of hope and joy. For Christians that should come primarily and ultimately from the light of the world, our refuge, our strength, our hope: Christ.

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!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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