Augustine on Psalm CXXX
Home, the Fourth Sunday after Easter
ALMIGHTY God, which dost make the minds of all faithful men to be of one will; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source of Collect: Sacrementary of Gelasius [ca 494 AD].
Homily of Augustine on Psalm CXXX
Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice
This is dedicated to Officer Bryan Durman, his family, friends, and cohort.
Augustine wrote,
"Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice" (ver. 1). Jonas cried from the deep; from the whale's belly. He was not only beneath the waves, but also in the entrails of the beast; nevertheless, those waves and that body prevented not his prayer from reaching God, and the beast's belly could not contain the voice of his prayer. It penetrated all things, it burst through all things, it reached the ears of God: if indeed we ought to say that, bursting through all things, it reached the ears of God, since the ears of God were in the heart of him who prayed. For where hath not he God present, whose voice is faithful?
Early Friday morning my son told me that during the night one of the officers on the police force had been killed by a hit and run driver in the line of duty. His assailant has been charged with murder. Later that day, we were gathered with the families and friends of the graduating class of new officers. After the posting of colors, we were invited all to a moment of silence as a memorial.
Graduation Memorial...a moment of silence and address.
I am sure in that silence the somber prayers of the faithful called out to God from the depths of their grief and at the same time in the realization of the risk these newly graduated officers will face. In my prayer I remembered this verse above which I had drafted a few hours before: Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice; and then drew from the Prayer "For whole state of Christ's Church" to complete my petition, saying silently in my heart,
We beseech thee Almighty God to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian rulers that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of good order.
Our collect prayer that began this page reminds us that in this world there is no promise of a life without pain and loss, but that amid all the many and various chances and risks of this life, with God's help, we may keep our hearts fixed on the Eternal, where joy is surely to be found. I pray that the family and friends of Officer Durman may be comforted in this hour.
Now I invite you to join with me by returning to that prayer and saying:
We also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to grant them continual growth in thy love and service, and to give us grace so the follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom. Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen +
FINIS
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Released by Primus Pilus
Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]
* ORDO CENTURIONUM * IN HOC SIGNO VINCES * TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
Released by Primus Pilus
Legio Christi-Ecclesia Militans
"Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" [St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 14:19]
* ORDO CENTURIONUM * IN HOC SIGNO VINCES * TIME DEUM ET OPERARE IUSTITIAM
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