Fourth Sunday Meditation: A Heart Of Gratitude

PSALM ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN

PRAISE THE LORD!

HALLELUJAH!

I will praise and give thanks to the Lord with my

whole heart in the council of the upright and in the congregation.

The works of the Lord are great, sought out by all those who delight in them.

The Angelus

(1857-59)

Jean Francois Millet

(1814-1875)

French painter

His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever.

He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious,

merciful, and full of loving compassion.

He has given food and provision to those who reverently and worshipfully

fear Him; He will remember His covenant forever and imprint it on His mind.

He has declared and shown to His people the power of His works in

giving them the heritage of the nations of Canaan.

The works of His hands are absolute truth and justice, faithful and right;

and all His decrees and precepts are sure, fixed, established, and trustworthy.

They stand fast and are established forever and ever

 and done in absolute truth and uprightness. 

He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant

to be forever; holy is His name, inspiring awe, reverence, and godly fear.

The reverent fear and worship of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom,

and skill, the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the

alphabet; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who

do the will of the Lord.  Their praise of Him endures forever.

"The Angelus"

The painting above depicts two humble peasants bowing

their heads in the dusk of the evening and giving thanks to God

for His Son, Jesus Christ, and paying homage to Mary, 

  the chosen vessel of the Lord and the mother of the Messiah. 

Mary's story is one of remarkable faith and has inspired

many generations of people to rise up and call her blessed.

In her humble obedience to the will of God for her life, this

young Jewish maiden of Nazareth changed the course of

human history and mankind's relationship with God forever.

"And Mary said, "My soul magnifies and extols the Lord. And my

spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has looked upon the low

station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now

on all generations will call me blessed and declare me happy and to be 

envied. For He Who is almighty has done great things for me-

and holy is His name, to be venerated in His purity, majesty, and glory!"

Luke 1:47-49

Breath of Heaven

(Mary's Song)

Amy Grant

(1983)