The Daily Office for October 15, 2012
Scripture Readings
Old Testament
Psalm
New Testament
Gospel
Reflection
The Psalms, like our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, begin with a beatitude. Although not specifically written as an introduction to the Psalter, the first psalm provides a basis for all the psalms that follow. It compares the happiness found in the Lord with the sadness of those who do not know Him.
The unnamed psalmist describes the godly person, both negatively (vs. 1) and positively (vss. 2–3). Negatively, he lists three types of sinners, three expressions of sin, and three places of sin that are available to, but not frequented by, the godly person. Positively, the godly person is one who is made happy by the law of the Lord, they think about it day and night, and they are like a tree growing by a stream. The godly person is rooted fast in order that he or she may bring forth good fruit. The purpose of God’s planting a person in the fertile soil of His grace is always the production of fruit. The contrast here is striking. The character of the ungodly person is like straw. Those who are not planted by the streams of water (i.e., the Word of God) are easily carried away.
Two people, two ways, two destinies. One leads to life and blessedness; the other, without God and His Word, is a dead-end street leading to death. No one can seriously read this psalm and not examine his or her own destiny. If we’re going to go to God’s heaven, we have to go in God’s way – through Jesus Christ.
Collect for the Day
Merciful God, who by your Spirit raised up your servant Teresa of Avila to reveal to your Church the way of perfection: grant that her teaching may awaken in us a longing for holiness, until we attain to the perfect union of love in Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.