Psalm 19 - God's law revives the soul (Psalm 19:7, 9, 11-13. Response v.8) ~ sung by Winnie fJ

According to the psalm, the glory of God is made manifest to all by the sun and by the divine Law. The Christian reader can see in the preaching of the Gospel the definitive revelation of this glory. The Law of the Lord is like the sun, and its qualities, too, proclaim the glory of God. Six statements celebrate these qualities; we are told the forms of the Law (law, precepts, commandments, etc ), and what the qualities are associated with them (perfection, reliability, purity, etc.), and the benefits they bestow on man (life, wisdom, joy, light, etc.). The ideas contained here are elaborated on in Psalm 119. The "fear of the Lord" (v. 9) should be taken as part of the Law, insofar as the latter commands man to honour and respect God. The glory of God is to be seen in the advantage that accrues to man from knowing and keeping the Law of God, just as the earth benefits from the heat and light of the sun. The psalmist realises, however, that one can break the Law without realising it and that nothing escapes God's judgement (vv. 11-12), just as nothing can hide from the heat of the sun. That is why he seeks God's forgiveness and tells him how sincerely he desires to be blameless in his sight (v. 13). This desire complements the praise of God that all creation silently offers. In this way praise of God and personal holiness acquire a cosmic dimension: "The creation awaits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19). The psalmist's petitions in vv. 12-13 will culminate in the Our Father prayer, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13); there "we are asking God not to allow us to take the path that leads to sin. This petition implores the Spirit of discernment and strength; it requests the grace of vigilance and final perseverance" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2863). ~ Commentary taken from the Navarre Bible This psalm arrangement is used in the Mass liturgy on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B. Photo credits: 1. Sunset - Neelkamal Deka 2. Keys on the Bible - Sixteen Miles Out 3. Bible at sunrise - Aaron Burden 4. Cross on a hill - Teddy Jansen 5. Woman by the lake - Artem Kovalev 6. Praying hands - Gianna Bonello