Happy and Blessed - Pt. 11

Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments. Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word. I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant. Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight. Let the insolent be put to shame, because they have wronged me with falsehood; as for me, I will meditate on your precepts. Let those who fear you turn to me, that they may know your testimonies. May my heart be blameless in your statutes, that I may not be put to shame! (Psalm 119:73-80 ESV).

 

For an illustration today I am retreating back more than 60 years. When I was a young child, being from an Italian Roman Catholic family, I was given the privilege of a private school education. I attended three parochial schools. The first, Ursaline Academy, could only be attended by boys as a pre-kindergarten. I was transferred to Sacred Heart Academy for my elementary education, and later attended the all-male Kirwin High School. My public school education did not begin until my freshman year when we moved to Dickinson, Texas. It was during those years that I was introduced to a particularly common practice of Roman Catholics: the use of “holy cards.” They are still widely distributed and used today. The custom of distributing Catholic prayer cards, also called holy cards, or sometimes mass cards, is a centuries old tradition of the Catholic Church. The oldest surviving Catholic prayer card dates to 1423. Holy cards bear a religious image with a favorite verse or prayer and are used to commemorate special moments such as First Communion, Confirmation or even a family reunion. I’ve chosen an image that still sticks in my memory all these years later to illustrate an important truth from our reading today. It pictures Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

 

The best reference to Jesus as a Shepherd comes from the Gospel of John (cf. John 10:11); however, my favorite passage is Psalm 23. Our reading today harkens back to that wonderful psalm of encouragement from David that so many Christians find comfort in reading and praying. You may remember that I wrote: “When you turn your worries to worship, God will turn your battles into blessings.” It occurred to me that I didn’t really say how that might be done. The key is in the practice of active meditation. Take a passage or verse of Scripture, like Psalm 23. Begin to recite it as your thoughts are turned to the reality of the truth in them. For example, take this verse: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6).  Let that turn over and over in your mind. What does it mean to you? What does it change in your mind? How does it bring you comfort in life and in death? A serenity will flood your heart and mind. God will turn your battles to blessings!