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highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity,
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Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for THERE IS
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Bishop Soc Villegas
25 July 2007
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LESSONS OF JOB
(Part 26)
WORSHIP AND EVANGELIZATION
November 21, 2009
Many verses in the Bible, especially the psalms, speak about our theme
for 2010 and its various aspects. I suppose it is simply because the
aspects of our theme speak about the basic truths about our faith. But
it is delightful when we see the different aspects of our theme coming
together in one passage (of several verses).
Once again, we look to today’s reading (Psalm 9:2-19). In particular
we look at verses 8 to 11.
The Almighty God. “The Lord rules forever, has set up a
throne for judgment.” (v.8). The Lord is King over all, and awesome
is He in His majesty. He is the Creator of the whole universe, and
judgment over all belongs to Him.
Justice and righteousness. Our God is just and righteous. “It
is God who governs the world with justice” (v.9a, NAB[1]).
It is he who “judges the world with righteousness” (v.9a, RSV[2]).
Redemptive suffering. “The Lord is a stronghold for the
oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (v.10). The just and
righteous who are afflicted can expect to be helped and saved by God.
This is our confidence: “you never forsake those who seek you,
Lord.” (v.11b).
Because of all the above, we can trust in God.[3] “Those
who honor your name trust in you” (v.11a).
If we trust in God, then we will always have hope.[4]
“The needy will never be forgotten, nor will the hope of the
afflicted ever fade.” (v.19).
If we have hope, then we will always have joy.[5] “I will
delight and rejoice in you” (v.3a). Whatever happens in life,
whatever we suffer through, we know that God is there. In fact, it is
precisely in our suffering that God disciplines, guides and purifies
us. Suffering, the way of the cross, is our path to becoming righteous
and just. For all these, we truly can rejoice.
God gives us hope, joy and trust, and for these we should be grateful.
God calls us to be just and righteous, and for that we need to turn to
Him. God is the Almighty, and for that we simply need to acknowledge
Him and humbly enthrone Him in our lives.
As such, our proper posture, as creatures to the Creator, as sinners
to the Holy One, as the lost that have been saved by the Savior, as
slaves of the Master, is worship. “I will praise you, Lord, with all
my heart; I will sing hymns to your name, Most High.” (v.2a,3b).
Further, as those who have experienced salvation and renewal, as those
who are called to be God’s instruments for the world, we must
evangelize. “I will declare all your wondrous deeds.” (v.2b).
Worship and evangelization. Such describe who we are, as God’s
people, and what we do, as God’s co-workers. Such is what leads us
to righteousness and justice. We worship in God’s holy presence, and
so we grow in holiness. We go forth into the world to proclaim Jesus,
and so we do justice to others, by giving them what is their due--the
salvation won by Jesus for them.
God’s blessings for us: hope, joy, trust. Our proper response:
worship and evangelization. “Sing hymns to the Lord enthroned on
Zion; proclaim God’s deeds among the nations!” (v.12).
[1]
New American Bible.
[2] Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.
[3] Our theme for this year 2009.
[4] Our theme for 2007.
[5] Our theme for 2008.
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