Reflections of Caritas

“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.” – Ps. 51:17

Over the past two years I have fallen in love with the Liturgy of the Hours. It is the universal prayer of the Church, recited throughout the day by priests, religious, and the lay faithful alike. The words of the opening prayer for the first “hour” of the day are always the same: “Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.” This verse comes from Psalm 51, which also happens to be the Responsorial Psalm at Mass for this upcoming Sunday. In this reflection, I would like to draw your attention to a few significant and beautiful details surrounding this snippet from Sacred Scripture.

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“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” – Ps. 90:12

Quick quiz…can you recite the Third Commandment? As it is written in the Book of Exodus, “Remember the Sabbath day – keep it holy.” (20:8) This rule can also be found in another form as the very first precept of the Church: “You shall attend Mass on Sundays and on holy days of obligations and rest from servile labor.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2042)

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“When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.” – Luke 14:13-14 

My wife and I are friends with a couple at our Parish who recently gave birth to their third child, a little baby boy. They had their son baptized at Mass a month later, and we were privileged to attend.

A few weeks ago these friends shared a remarkable story with us. They had received a letter in the mail with no return address on the envelope. A simple note was inside. It read, "I was blessed to witness your son's baptism. You are doing a great job with your little family, and your faith is inspiring. Keep up the good work." Included with the anonymous note was a stack of hundred dollar bills, which added up to a total of $1,000.

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“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” – Luke 13:24

Jesus tells us that we must tread a fine path if we wish to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Why would He say that? If He truly loves humanity, wouldn’t He want to make the gate wider and the road a bit more accommodating? Isn’t He being a bit cruel by demanding that we enter through such a narrow gate? Isn’t He restricting our freedom?

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