tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838698329757338280.post4151553297480170868..comments2017-12-01T10:52:19.431-08:00Comments on Sunday Bible Study by ParishWorld.net: "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."Editor @ Parishworld.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351018547370080019noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838698329757338280.post-67677702378363089942013-02-06T17:09:16.156-08:002013-02-06T17:09:16.156-08:00"Lord your love endures forever,
never forsak..."Lord your love endures forever,<br />never forsake the work of your hand.”<br /><br />Our psalmist David composed <br />this prayer of a grateful heart.<br />“I will give thanks to you, <br />O Lord, with all my heart.”<br />The seraphim in our 1st reading<br />(Isaiah) cry out in a similar tone,<br />“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of <br />hosts, all the earth is filled with <br />His glory,”<br /><br />David is grateful because his <br />petitions are answered by the Lord. <br />“For you have heard the words <br />of my mouth.” The Lord's answers <br />to David's prayers have come at a <br />critical time, a time when our <br />psalmist is seeking to build up <br />his strength.<br /><br />David speaks of a divine rescue --<br />“When I cried out, you answered;<br />you strengthened my spirit.”<br />Perhaps we’re all in need of a <br />spiritual rescue of the type David <br />describes. And it isn’t because <br />of any of the psalmist’s virtues <br />that he obtains salvation. It is <br />a result of God’s loving fidelity.<br />“Lord, your love is eternal.”<br /><br />Our God does not forsake the <br />work of His hands, though who <br />has given the Lord anything that <br />he may be repaid? Unworthy as <br />we are, and though the Lord is <br />exalted, He watches over us in our <br />lowly state. And thanks be to God, <br />His kindness endures forever. <br />St. Paul says the same thing in our <br />2nd reading, “But by the grace <br />of God I am what I am.”<br /><br />Our psalmist reminds us -- all God <br />has to do is stretch out his right hand,<br />and we will be saved. “You stretch out <br />your hand, your right hand saves me.”<br />Jesus made a similar intervention <br />on behalf of St. Peter and his fishermen <br />companions in our Gospel reading, <br />when our Lord astonished Peter <br />at the catch of fish they had made.<br />And on that same day at the Lake <br />of Gennesaret Jesus empowered Peter <br />to become a true apostle and a catcher<br />of men by following the Lord.<br /><br />Our psalm concludes in a grateful and <br />affirming theme, showing how Peter <br />probably felt, as he fell on his face <br />at the feet of the Lord that day by the lake.<br />“The Lord is with me to the end. <br />Lord your love endures forever, <br />never forsake the work of your hand.”<br /><br />AmenBarry Lamontnoreply@blogger.com