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These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Luke 24:44
Reading the Psalms is a little-used but highly effective way of advancing your spiritual life. The Psalms are the songbook of Israel, a chronicle of praise and pain from our spiritual ancestors. The New Testament relies on the Psalms as foundational, and they can be a scriptural bedrock of spiritual formation. The Psalms are, first of all, part of God’s inspired word and, thus, reveal to us the character of God. Reading the Psalms, we understand who God is and what it looks like to relate to Him. In the Psalms, we also learn how to bring our whole selves to God. When we read the Psalms, we will encounter both intellectual and emotional aspects of life brought into God’s presence. The entire range of human experience is captured in the Psalms, from the heights of joy to the depths of despair. The writers were not afraid to bring fear, delight, shame, exuberance, repentance, and longing into prayer with God. As we read and pray the Psalms, we discover that we, too, can bring our whole selves to God. The Psalms were written by various human authors: David wrote 73 Psalms, or about half of them; Asaph, the sons of Korah, and Moses wrote some; some do not indicate an author. But whatever human author they have, they are the inspired word of God. Jesus in Matthew 22 said, “David, IN THE SPIRIT,” wrote Psalm 110. Jesus said in Luke 24:44-45 “that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” — then :45 says, “Then He opened their minds to understand the SCRIPTURES.” So these Psalms are inspired Scriptures, the word of God. They were written originally as songs — the Hebrew word for Psalm (Mitzmor) means a song sung to musical accompaniment. Many of them carry inscriptions (which are part of the original Hebrew text), which say things like: “for the choir director,” or “to the tune of ‘Lilies’” and so on. So when we are reading the Psalms, we are basically reading song lyrics that the Hebrews used for worship. And of course, many of the songs we sing today come right out of these Biblical Psalms. But these aren’t “just” song lyrics, but prayers, which teach us how to speak and walk with God. There are 150 Psalms — more chapters than any other book in the Bible — and it also has more verses by far than any other book in the Bible. So the Psalms are a rich storehouse of spiritual treasure for us that we need to take advantage of to grow spiritually. We are beginning a study of the Psalms starting this Thursday night at 7:00 via ZOOM. Please join us for this ten-week study and experience the Psalms for yourself in real time. Singing psalms of praise! Fr. Bill+
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St. Clare of Assisi
Today is the Feast Day of St. Clare. To better understand her as a companion of St. Francis, I have included a brief summary of her life as told on the catholic.org website's summaries of saints. St. Clare of Assisi Feast Day: August 11th Patron Saint of Television, Telecommunications, Eye disorders, Embroiderers St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) was one of the Church's great saints and the foundress of the Order of Poor Clares. Inspired by the example of St. Francis of Assisi, she gave up a life of wealth and privilege to follow Christ in poverty, prayer, and humble service. Born into a noble family in Assisi, Italy, Clare felt called from an early age to dedicate her life completely to God. At the age of eighteen, she left her family home and was welcomed by St. Francis, who received her vows and cut her hair as a sign of her new life devoted to Christ. Soon afterward, her younger sister, St. Agnes of Assisi, joined her, and together they established the Poor Clares. Clare led her community with wisdom, humility, and unwavering trust in God's providence. She embraced a life of simplicity, continual prayer, and Eucharistic devotion. She insisted that her sisters own no personal property, placing their complete confidence in God's care. According to Catholic tradition, St. Clare displayed great faith during an attack on her convent. Holding the Blessed Sacrament before the invaders, she prayed for God's protection, and the attackers fled, leaving the sisters unharmed. After many years of faithful service, St. Clare died in 1253 and was canonized just two years later by Pope Alexander IV. Today, she is remembered as a model of holiness, humility, and joyful trust in God. Her life continues to inspire {Christians} to seek Christ through prayer, simplicity, and complete reliance on His loving providence. Did You Know? · St. Clare founded the Order of Poor Clares at 18 years old. · St. Francis of Assisi cut her hair as a sign of her dedication to God. · She protected her convent by praying before the Blessed Sacrament. · She is the patron saint of television because she miraculously saw and heard Mass from her room when she was too sick to attend. Enjoy St. Clare's feast day, and may you be inspired by the example she set. Fr. Bill+ Grace and Peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!
This greeting, delivered by St. Paul to the Corinthians, was not an uncommon one. In fact, he used similar words in all thirteen of his letters: Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy. For example, Galatians 1:1-5: “Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through men but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Thessalonians 1:1: “Paul, Silvanus [Silas], and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2: “Paul, Silvanus [Silas], and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 1:1-7: “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the Gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of god with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection of the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you are also the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Titus 1:1-4: “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgement of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior; to Titus, a true son in our common faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.” If you have read the Letters, and I hope you have, you know that Paul was writing in every context, praise, encouragement, anger, frustration, joy, etc. No matter what the occasion, Paul frames himself and every letter wholly in the context of God’s grace and saving action. He is worthy to write not because he is Paul, but because God has made him such. Some, who do believe, categorize this as simply literary stylings. They would describe his words in terms of persuasion and categories of authority, but we know it is not style, it is truth and witness. As we reflect on the personal nature of Paul’s communication, we receive his proclamation of what he believes and wants to believe more. St. Paul’s powerful witness leads us to ask: Why does St. Paul feel called to frame all he says in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? And, What does that witness mean to me? The language in St. Paul’s letters has everything to do with his relationship with God, regardless of the topic of the letter. His faith and the exercise of his faith form the language he is using and provide the foundation from which he approaches each subject. The depth of his reliance on God and the importance of God’s saving witness are the two aspects of his life that animate all his letters. His communications are all filled with references and proclamations to and about God because God is the source from which everything flows. This is not because it is a “church letter,” but because he is a godly man; simply put, Paul writes as a believer and encourages us to do so (write, speak, share) as well. Geologists write like geologists, and lawyers like lawyers. Likewise, the emphasis of our life is evident in how we write and the language we use. C. S. Lewis echoes St. Augustine as he teaches that as we grow into a thing, we must “rehearse it”—after all, practice makes perfect. If you want to love more—LOVE MORE. If you want to see more—SEE MORE. If you want to forgive more—FORGIVE MORE. This is not magic, blessing, or gift; it is an act of the will, and it requires will power to accomplish. This is true as it is true in all things we practice – tennis, French, cooking, bridge, programming, and all manner of things we want to grow in. St. Paul shows that the practice of our faith needs to be exercised even as much as we would practice Yo-Yo or how to use our phone. Wishing to be more faithful is not being more faithful, but it is a start. From wishing (a genuine admission of a need for something we don’t have) to practicing is a BIG jump. Wishing is an act of the mind, but practicing is an outward and visible sign of an inward commitment to change. In the same way that to love someone more, you need to live out of love to them, to grow in the faith of Jesus Christ, you need to live out that faith in all things. Jesus tells us he is always with us, and he is! Knowing this and acting on it, through faith, through him (who is with you), like the love that grows by giving it away, you will grow in faith by living the faith given to you. Pursue the presence of God with energy and focus. Be fixated on being the faith you proclaim. Practice the acts of love and devotion you want to be. Speak yourself as the one you wish you could be, and you will be it. Risking to speak the name of Jesus and to talk about the Father and the action of the Holy Spirit is as liberating as it is joyous! God is present in the speaking of the name because He and the name are one, and it is in the speaking that we are blessed. Practice your faith, and it will grow strong. Rely on the Holy Spirit to comfort you in this, and you will be transformed. Grace and Peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! Fr. Bill+ |
AuthorFather Bill Burk† Archives
September 2026
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