Day 12: Psalm 131

Reflect, Rest, and Recommend are the three R’s that the psalmist has in mind in Psalm 131. This brief but potent psalm gives the psalmist an opportunity to both share with the Lord individually and make a recommendation for the whole community based on his experience.

The psalmist knows of the restlessness that is caused by seeking after honors and earthly positions. He REFLECTS on the hollowness of ambition that disquiets the mind and draws one’s heart away from the Lord. The great temptation of the proud, according to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI “who want to be like God, the arbiter of good and evil, is decisively rejected by the person of prayer who chooses humble and spontaneous trust in the One Lord.” This is a lesson that the psalmist has now learned; thus, he is able to pray, “my heart is not proud, nor haughty my eyes. I have not gone after things too great nor marvels beyond me.”

Next, the psalmist is able to REST. Fr. Richard Foster states, “the arrogant thoughts and ceaseless worrying of former days have yielded to wiser counsels which have shown him how distracting to the pursuit of his true purpose are all high aspirations.” Now, the psalmist is calm and stilled; no longer restless in heart, he is able to abandon himself to God’s holy will. The psalmist uses the image of mother and child to illustrate this complete abandon. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI says, “this is the ideal parable of the true childhood of the spirit that does not abandon itself to God blindly and automatically, but serenely and responsibly.” This is what the psalmist seeks to do: to abandon self to the Lord in a spiritual childhood that surrenders to the loving-kindness of the Lord, and trusts in the Lord to the extent that peace of soul is attained. The psalmist is at rest.

This will then be the recommendation of the psalmist to the whole of the Israelite community gathered with him. “O Israel, hope in the Lord both now and forever!” Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI says, “In the entire people which receives security, life and peace from God, hope now blossoms and extends from the present to the future, now and forever!”

For the pilgrims praying this psalm on the 12 ^th step, it is one of humility. It is God who has brought them this far. It is also a movement from bringing their worries and troubles to the Lord, to simply abandoning themselves and trusting in Him and His care for them. The pilgrim too on the journey has had time to reflect, and now to rest, and also to recommend to us this same process as we journey to Jerusalem; and journey to the Heavenly Kingdom.

Pray Psalm 131 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

How has the journey helped the psalmist to reflect on his life?

St. Augustine stated, “For You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Consider how the Lord is calling you to rest. What are the things that need to be surrendered in your life to enter into this rest?

Jesus says, “Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” St. Therese’s spiritual childhood or “little way” invites us to cast ourselves upon God’s loving care. How can we show our dependence on the Lord each day?

What words or phrases stood out to you in this psalm?  Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!