For the Third Sunday in Lent…
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness
toward those who fear him.
Psalm 103: 8,11
At Mass this Sunday, it’s a wild card in terms of what readings you might hear. If the Scrutinies are taking place for people preparing to entering church at Easter, you’ll likely hear readings from Year A. If not, you’ll hear the set for Year C, including one of my favorite psalms, listed above. Since the Mass lectionary will only recount a few verses of the incredible psalm 103, I heartily recommend that you break out your Bible (or find a version online) and just sit and pray with the whole thing as part of your Lenten reading. It is worth coming back to again, and again.
If you need to build up some gratitude in your soul, read and pray Psalm 103.
If you need a better sense that everything—everything—good in your life comes from the God’s loving hand, read and pray Psalm 103.
If you need healing, read and pray Psalm 103.
If you’ve ever been down in the pit of struggle, loneliness or despair, read and pray Psalm 103.
If need to get to Confession, read and pray Psalm 103.
If you’ve ever doubted that after a Confession, that God really, really has forgiven you, read and pray Psalm 103. The psalm at Mass does not include verse 12, a true favorite of mine: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.”
If you ever wanted to pray like an angel, read and pray Psalm 103.
If you never learned how to give praise to God, read and pray Psalm 103.
Read and pray. Pause at the words or phrases that have meaning for you.
Linger over them with Jesus. He knows why you find them meaningful. Talk that over with him.
Bless the Lord, my soul!
