Only In God

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, await, hope, prayer, refuge, saving rock, silence, soul, stronghold, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

I was led this morning to Psalm 62 by an e-mail from a friend. It speaks to the state of mind where I choose to place my hope these days.

Alone my soul awaits you in the silence, Lord; by you and only you am I restored. You are for me my solid ground, foundation firm on which I stand…for you are my whole hope and prayer. You only are my saving rock, a stronghold safe, unshaken, sure, my safety, honor and my refuge firm...(Ancient Songs Sung Anew, p.154)

For additional reflection, if you prefer music, visit John Foley of the Saint Louis Jesuits at YouTube for the song Only In God.

Reader’s Choice

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Ancient Songs Sung Anew, God's presence, refuge, stillness, stronghold, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

A strange thing happened just now as I went to the USCCB website for the lectionary readings of the day (always my first stop upon arising). When I clicked on the calendar, an empty space appeared. Thinking it was my recalcitrant phone, I did the same with my computer. Same result: empty page. I clicked on February 4th and 6th and both showed the readings of the day but today was empty. I’m supposing it was some kind of a glitch at the Bishops’ office but decided to treat it as “reader’s choice.”

I opened my trusty Ancient Songs Sung Anew – not exactly at random. Today I am participating in an event at the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Schenectady, NY, a place where I spent several graced weekends leading retreats some years ago. One of my favorites was based on Psalm 46. As I opened to it this morning, I was not disappointed to find the title, God’s Presence in a World Torn Apart. Here are some of the hopeful lines.

God is for us a place of refuge and a mighty strength always present to us in our time of need…Though storms may blow and the seas themselves begin to foam, and the foundations of the world are shaken to their core…like a stronghold to our ancestors, our God is with us now…And like the light of morning, God’s presence breaks as dawn, and nothing is ever shaken there or broken down…Be silent, then, and in the stillness know the transcendence of our God. Know too the immanence of the One present in each being…Like a stronghold to our ancestors, our God is with us now. (p. 115)

I will hope to remember these words as I watch the State of the Union address this evening.

Resting in God

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God, hope, psalm 62, rest, rock, salvation, soul, stronghold, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, trust in God

I thought there was a misprint on the US Bishops’ website this morning. I was reading Psalm 62 (2-3, 6-7, 9) and I thought the entire first two segments were the same. I didn’t catch at first that the psalmist was speaking first in general of a truth about relationship with God (vs. 2) and secondly to his own soul about the necessity of belief in that truth (vs. 6) with  the repetition (vs. 3 & 7) giving emphasis to each. Confused? Read on.

Only in God is my soul at rest; from God comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed at all. Only in God be at rest, my soul, for from God comes my hope. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be disturbed.

After speaking directly to his soul about the hope that comes from this attitude/practice of resting in God, the psalmist then bursts into song addressed to the whole nation, urging them in the same way: Trust in God at all times, O my people! Pour out your hearts before him; God is our refuge!

May we all find rest and hope in God throughout this day.