You Have Searched Me and You Know Me, Lord

August 29, 2007

Memorial of the Martyrdom of Saint John the Baptist

By Melanie Rigney

“You have searched me and you know me, Lord. Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence where can I flee? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.” (Psalms 139:1, 7-8)

“…We treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

Piety
Lord, you are with me always, in the public and private places, in the light of my goodness and in the depths of my darkness. Hold my hand. Show me the way.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/082907.shtml
http://uscatholic.claretians.org/site/News2?JServSessionIdr003=a6lb7ba3h3.app14b&abbr=usc_&page=NewsArticle&id=5864&security=1201&news_iv_ctrl=1382

When U.S. Catholic Magazine readers were asked to name their favorite Bible verse or story, today’s psalm finished in a tie for fifth. To see the full list, click on the link above; no surprise, perhaps, that the story of the prodigal son finished first.

What is it about Psalm 139 that speaks to us? It may be the double-edged sword of knowing that God is everpresent—and knowing that God is everpresent. He’s there when we need His help, when we cry out prayers of supplication for assistance and relief. A friend is writing a book in which she refers to the time she made a list she called “Ten Impossible Prayers” and stuck it in her Bible. A year later, forgotten, it fell out of her Bible. Seven had been answered precisely as she had asked. He was there, she realized; he heard and saw.

But that means God is also present when we envy our neighbor’s possessions, when we are tempted to cheat on our taxes, when we lie to acquaintances. He is there too; he hears and sees.

In today’s first reading, Paul reminds the Thessalonians, “W treated each one of you as a father treats his children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into his Kingdom and glory.” While God does not insist that we walk in a manner worthy of Him, we are the poorer when we do not do so. He is there; he hears and sees.

Action
Live today as if God was watching and hearing your every move—because He is. Be mindful all day of obeying the two greatest commandments: Love God with all your heart and soul and love your neighbor as yourself, from that grump who sells you coffee every morning to your gossipy coworker to your spouse, roommate or significant other.