Meditations on Psalms

Psalm 31

1. The Resurrection
O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you; Let the wicked be put to shame; let them be reduced to silence in the nether world. (Ps 31:18).
Although Jesus was put to shame through his suffering and death on the cross on Good Friday, He triumphantly rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. The soldiers, the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection, “were shaken with fear and became like dead men” (Mt 28:4). Yet, they took money from the chief priests to make the story about Jesus’ empty tomb saying, “His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep” (Mt 28:13). What a shame! Sleeping guard! Even the Pharisees and Sadducees were ashamed when apostles proclaimed Jesus’ resurrection. They said to the apostles, “You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s (Jesus) blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles said in replay, ‘We must obey God … who raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree” (cf. Acts 5:28-30).
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “A simple soul is upright, not ashamed to acknowledge her faults.”

2. The Ascension
How great is the goodness, O Lord, which you have in store for those who fear you, and which toward those who take refuge in you, you show in the sight of men. (Ps 31:20)
After forty days of Jesus’ resurrection, the day He was taken up has arrived. Strengthened by many proofs that Jesus is alive, the apostles gathered together around Jesus at the mount called Olivet, and He gave them his last words, the words of goodness. “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. You will receive power of the Holy Spirit … you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth” (Mk 16.16; Acts 1:8). Yes, we, who believe in Jesus, are witnesses of the goodness of our Lord in our everyday life. He, who was lifted up and a cloud took Him from the sight of his apostles, is still with us in his sacraments.
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “Let us honor the designs of God, who never fails in goodness.”

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
Blessed be the Lord whose wondrous kindness he has shown me in a fortified city. (Ps 31:22)
Jesus’ promise of receiving the power when the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles was fulfilled on the tenth day after His ascension. Yet, Jesus asked them not to depart Jerusalem, but stay in the city until they were “clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49). So, the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy and went to the upper room where they were staying and praising God. While they devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. What a power of common prayer! May the name of the Lord be praised! He shows us his kindness and mercy when we call upon Him. He clothes us with power of the Holy Spirit when we two or three are gathered together in his name.
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “O how great is the kindness and mercy of God toward us!”

4. The Assumption
Take courage and be stouthearted, all you who hope in the Lord. (Ps 31:25)
When Jesus, dying on the cross, entrusted his mother to his beloved disciple John, John took her into his home. After Jesus’ ascension, disciples gathered together around his mother Mary and prayed together. Mary became the heart of the Church established by Jesus Christ. Since Annunciation, the Blessed Virgin Mary hoped in the Lord, although she encountered many sufferings. With courage she went to visit Elizabeth, who in her advanced age was with child. With courage she went to Bethlehem and to Egypt, and for three days was looking with fear for her son Jesus, whom she later accompanied on his way to Calvary, and stayed there until his death and burial. And hoping in the Lord, she awaited Jesus’ resurrection. What courage and hope! What a courageous heart of our heavenly Mother! May she, whose body and soul was assumed into heavenly glory, intercede for us.
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “Believe me, one can hope for the greatest merit in caring for the sick if one does all from a pure intention, that is, to please God and to save souls for Him.”

5. The Coronation
Love the Lord, all you his faithful ones! The Lord keeps those who are constant, but more than requites those who act proudly. (Ps 31:24)
In her canticle, Mary proclaimed the greatness of the Lord, the Mighty One who does great things for those who are faithful to Him. The Lord keeps those who are constant by showing might with his arms and his mercy to those who love Him, but disperses the arrogant of mind and heart. He also throws down the mighty ones of this world, but lifts up the lowly. He takes care of the hungry whom He fills with good things, but the rich sends away empty. The humble servant and the Mother of God and the spouse of the Holy Spirit was crowning as Queen of heaven and earth. Queen of heaven and earth, pray for us!
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “Throughout the whole day, at every moment we have opportunities to prove our faithfulness in small matters and to practice virtues out of pure love of God.”
 

 
1. The Resurrection
Fairer in beauty are you than the sons of men; grace is poured out upon your lips; thus God has blessed you forever. (Ps 45:3).
God has blessed Jesus by raising Him from the dead. The sufferings and death of Jesus, the Son of God, could not take away His beauty. On the contrary, His beauty was even more accentuated that Mary Magdalene seeing Him thought that He was a gardener. Even His close disciple, like apostles Peter, Andrew, James, did not recognize Him. They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Two other disciples going to Emmaus did not recognize Him, too. They thought of Him as one of the visitors of Jerusalem. In all these meetings, grace poured out upon Jesus’ lips when He spoke, opened their eyes that they were able to see God’s beauty in Jesus.
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “Be attentive to utilize the opportune moment; grace will put the proper words into your heart and on your lips.”


2. The Ascension
O mighty one! In your splendor and your majesty ride on triumph. Your throne, O God, stands forever and ever; a tempered rod is your royal scepter. (Ps 45:4.7)
Mighty one, Jesus, appeared to His apostles for forty days and strengthened their faith. Then, He called them to come on the mount called Olivet. After the last instruction, Jesus was taken up to heaven and took His seat at the right hand of God. He rode on triumph to the heavens in splendor and majesty. He, God, mounted His throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord. All power in heaven and on earth had been given to Him. God, our Lord, reigns forever. A tempered rod is His royal scepter. Yet, His dominion is mercy and love. He would like to welcome all people into His kingdom.
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “You will not be able to make progress in the interior life until the spirit has finally triumphed over the flesh.”


3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
You love justice and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anoited you with the oil of gladness. (Ps 45:8)
Before His ascension, Jesus said to His apostles what is justice and what is wickedness, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk 16:16) He also asked them to stay in Jerusalem until they will be anointed by the Holy Spirit. In ten days it happened, they all were anointed with the oil of gladness. The Holy Spirit descended upon them like tongues of fire. They become strong to teach boldly to love justice and hate wickedness.
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “If young people were taught more about virtues and about the love of Jesus, if we talked to them more about God than about the world, then believe me, youth would not be so corrupt.”


4. The Assumption
In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king; behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you. They are borne in with gladness and joy; they enter the palace of the king. (Ps 45:15-16)
What a shout of joy was in the heaven when Blessed Mother ended her earthly pilgrimage! Whole assembly of heavenly hosts and saints descended to her and with gladness and great joy they were borne in and entered the palace of the King of heaven and earth. Yes, Jesus’ and our Mother, in embroidered apparel, a very precious cloth, was borne in to God, her Father, God, her Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Her body and soul was assumed into heavenly glory with gladness and joy.
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “Is it so difficult to mortify ourselves for several years – or perhaps for even a shorter time – when we consider the everlasting joys that await us in eternity?”


5. The Coronation
With myrrh and aloes and cassia your robes are fragrant; from ivory palaces string music brings you joy. The daughters of kings come to meet you; the queen takes her place at your right hand in gold of Ophir. (Ps 45:9-10)
The great celebration took place in heaven when the Blessed Virgin Mary was crowned as a Queen of heaven and earth. Whole assembly of heavenly hosts and saints clothed in precious and fragrant robes exalted. Lovely music brought joy and happiness. There was a great banquet. Heavenly inhabitants expressed their gratitude to God who crowned Jesus’ and our Mother, clothed in gold, as a Queen of heaven and earth. They pay homage to her. Mary, the Queen, in gratitude took her place at her Son’s, Jesus’ right hand, where she intercedes for us.
Blessed Alphonse Marie says, “There is nothing that brings us closer to God than prayer.”