Wednesday Prayer
But God did hear and listen to my voice in prayer.
Blessed be God, who did not refuse me the kindness I sought in prayer.
Psalm 66
... whoever come to me will not hunger....
... I will not reject anyone who comes to me.
John 35 and 37
These two sets of words seem to indicate that Jesus spoke in words so close to those that King David had included in Psalm 66. While today's gospel reading focuses on the Eucharist, "I am the bread of life" as the source of so much of the power and strength we are given by God, the words of the Evangelist John speak as did David about the goodness of God. He is a loving God that cares about each of us. When we come to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit in our prayer, we are asking for graces, for blessings, for healings, for solutions more often than not.
In reading the full text of the psalm in the bible version used by the Bishops' Conference, there was a word added at the end of each small paragraph: Selah. The word appears frequently in the Psalms. It is thought to be a liturgical or musical directive either to life one's voice or to pause. However, in using Google to search the meaning of the word, far from being a liturgical or musical director, I came across a selection of music that helped me in my dialog with God. Let me share it with you. Click on to hear a a sung version by the artist Selah!
Press On
When the valley is deep
When the mountain is steep
When the body is weary
When we stumble and fall ...
When the choices are hard
When we're battered and scarred
When we've spent our resources
When we've given our all
Chorus:
In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
In Jesus' name, we press on
Dear Lord, with the prize
Clear before our eyes
We find the strength to press on
To press on
And where do we "find the strength to press on"? Think a little and the Holy Spirit should be answering with thoughts about the Eucharist. It is the "Bread of Life" that provides those who partake of the Eucharist with the abundance of graces to meet the challenges that we seek to meet or overcome in our lives.
