Hey Deacon

As part of Lent, we are encouraged to be more intentional in our prayers. For myself, I try not to get too crazy and stay with a practice that I started during my diaconate formation. This includes being faithful to my daily prayer routine and adding a new spiritual book to read to reflect on Psalm 51 each day.

Why Psalm 51? For myself, it reminds me of my faults, my need for repentance, and God’s infinite mercy. “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

This psalm was written by King David after Nathan confronted him about his adulterous sin with Bathsheba. He had Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, killed. In the Psalm, David begs God for mercy and cleansing. This Psalm is perfect for when we struggle to find the words to repent of our sins. When I go to confession, it helps me to recall when I have wronged someone or failed to act.

If I were to ask a large number of Catholics their favorite psalm, their responses would be all across the board. I suspect Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”, would rank near the top. The second likely response would be that most people haven’t given it much thought.

I encourage everyone to discover a psalm that speaks directly to you, a psalm inspired by God that penetrates your heart. To help jump start this endeavor, I have listed five additional psalms that speak to me. If none of these resonate with you, there are 143 others to choose from.

Psalm 37: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” This psalm encourages trust in the Lord and delighting in His ways.

Psalm 46: “Be still, and know that I am God.” This psalm invites contemplation and surrender to God’s sovereignty.

Psalm 62: “My soul waits for God alone. He alone is my rock and my salvation. Trust in him at all times.” This psalm speaks of patience and the power of belonging to God.

Psalm 139: “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” A profound reflection on God’s perfect knowledge and omnipresence and acknowledges that He knows us intimately and is always with us.

Psalm 150: “Praise the Lord…praise him with timbrel and dancing...praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” This psalm has singing, dancing, and myself being a drummer, praising the Lord with cymbals. What is not to like?

The Psalms cover a wide range of emotions, from praise and thanksgiving to lament and supplication. We find solace, inspiration, and spiritual nourishment in these timeless expressions of faith. Make time to “Praise the Lord” through praying His psalms.

Author Bio:
Deacon Dan Vaughn