The responsorial psalm for Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary time, is beautifully simple.
The psalmist is open in his neediness, and frank in his profession of thankfulness for the goodness of God.
Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
for you are God my saviour.Lord, make me know your ways.
Remember your mercy, Lord,
and the love you have shown from of old.
In your love remember me.
because of your goodness, O Lord.Lord, make me know your ways.
The Lord is good and upright.
He shows the path to those who stray,
He guides the humble in the right path,
He teaches his way to the poor.Lord, make me know your ways.
Psalm 24:4-6,7-9
The psalmist’s song is put on our lips. We sing a different melody, but hopefully the same sentiment and thought expresses itself in our singing of the scriptural song.
One of the simplest and most important ‘notes’ for choirs – and congregations – is to remember that when you sing at Mass what you are singing is a prayer. And if you are singing it, it needs to be your prayer, as well as ours.
The psalm encourages us to know our need, frankly, simply, and to know why we give thanks.
Plenty of work to take to our private prayer today, as we prepare for Sunday’s Mass.
Photograph ‘Showing the Way’ in Cork, Eire. (c) 2010, Allen Morris.
Living Eucharist 