![](\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-fqzIqlKr0bs\/TVrYNhTzrlI\/AAAAAAAABcY\/FuDq-0KXLjM\/s1600\/Thinker_Question.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\nAs I discover the Psalms anew, I am reminded of St. Augustine\u2019s saying about the Church: \u201clate have I loved thee.\u201d When I was younger, see, and when I thought I knew everything, I used to skip these sacred, inspired, and often times prophetic, poems.<\/p>\n
Nowadays, I turn to them and find comfort and instruction. Below is a sample of what I mean. It is Psalm 15 written by David. As psalms go, it is a short one. The kind that readily lends itself to lectio divina<\/a>,<\/i> and even simple memorization. Short, and yet full of practical wisdom for walking along the Way. Keep in mind that this is the Holy Spirit speaking to us, in an informal question and answer session,<\/p>\n A psalm of David.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n LORD, who may abide in your tent? Are not these questions key? Because once you come to the realization that you are one of God\u2019s children, you wonder if you are worthy of such a position. What must I do to be a child of the Most High? The Holy Spirit answers,<\/p>\n Whoever walks without blame, So far, so good until I realize that I have slipped in all of these areas. Yes, I can look in the mirror and note that even I have slandered a friend in the past, not to mention those whom I have disagreed with who were not my friends. And often I used the text from the next few lines as my self-righteous reason why,<\/p>\n Who disdains the wicked, Of course, to do this honestly, and justly, I find that I must disdain myself before I turn the spotlight on others. I remember a line from Psalm 14, \u201cNot one does what is right, not even one.\u201d Yes, I recall painfully, this \u201cone\u201d is definitely me. And in the next line, as I recoil in horror, the Holy Spirit reminds me not to flee from the responsibility of self-examination. Because I must be one,<\/p>\n Who keeps an oath despite the cost,<\/i><\/p>\n and one who<\/p>\n lends no money at interest,<\/i><\/p>\n instead of always asking \u201cwhat\u2019s in it for me?\u201d whenever I am asked to help, or give of my time, talents, and scanty treasure. And all the while, though I like to think that I would never do such a thing, I must remember to be one who<\/p>\n accepts no bribe against the innocent.<\/i><\/p>\n By this point, the realization dawns that alone, left to my own self-interest, I will fail in keeping any of these seemingly simple precepts. Instead, I will be doing what Qoheleth observed when he was inspired to write,<\/p>\n Then I saw that all toil and skillful work is the rivalry of one man for another. This also is vanity and a chase after wind.<\/i><\/p>\n Despite the best intentions of Adam Smith\u2019s \u201cinvisible hand.\u201d Coming back, then, to the conclusion of this psalm, I know that only through God\u2019s grace will I be one who can be counted as one that,<\/p>\n Whoever acts like this Do you know why I don\u2019t spend much intellectual horsepower in this space writing about the \u201cbig questions\u201d of the day? It is because all of the big questions have been answered already. As Christ Himself said, on more than one occasion, \u201cHe that has ears, let him hear.\u201d What is left to do, and one which takes a lifetime to perfect, is the implementation<\/i> of the answers<\/a>. In simple terms, and on a personal level, stop spinning your wheels and get going.<\/p>\n Thinking through the Psalms allows me to hear<\/i> the answers to what I so deftly ignored for so long. And that is, the Church has the answers, even as we Church members falter in following Her precepts. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, instructs us to pray the Psalms and provides them for us in a format that is suitable for this purpose. <\/a><\/p>\n As for me and this blog, with the help of God\u2019s grace, I\u2019ll just continue to stay on this narrow,and winding, pilgrims path. Because though I once worshipped my prideful self, now I remind myself often to pray<\/a>,<\/p>\n LORD, my heart is not proud; With an understanding that, \u201cthere remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Update: <\/i>Peter Kreeft agrees.<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/a>
A few days ago I shared a kind letter<\/a> that Thomas Merton wrote a 6th grader, and noted that being kind is one of the traits of a Christian. I have written also on being meek<\/a>, and how John C.H. Wu has helped me see that character trait in a more positive, and more approachable light.<\/p>\n
Who may dwell on your holy mountain?<\/i><\/p>\n
doing what is right,
speaking truth from the heart;
Who does not slander a neighbor,
does no harm to another,
never defames a friend;<\/i><\/p>\n
but honors those who fear the LORD;<\/i><\/p>\n
shall never be shaken.<\/i><\/p>\n
nor are my eyes haughty.
I do not busy myself with great matters,
with things too sublime for me.
Rather, I have stilled my soul,
hushed it like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother\u2019s lap,
so is my soul within me.<\/i><\/p>\n