In the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, the Book of Psalms contains one hundred fifty religious poems or hymns. Composed over the course of perhaps one thousand years by various authors (including David, Moses, and Solomon), the psalms can be divided into four categories. Many of the psalms are songs of praise. Some are hymns of thanksgiving. Others are prayers of petition. And the rest are penitential psalms. As part of the Liturgy of the Word at every celebration of the Holy Mass, we sing or recite one of the psalms as a way of linking the readings from the Old and New Testaments.

This weekend, we pray with portions of Psalm 89 (see below). At the end of each verse, we cry out: Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord! This refrain speaks to the central theme of the first section of this long psalm of thanksgiving — our enduring gratitude for God’s faithfulness to his people. In this context, God’s faithfulness can be understood as God’s constancy, devotion, loyalty, and commitment to those who believe and trust in his promise of salvation. So when we sing or speak the refrain, we pledge to give voice and living witness to God’s goodness and love for his creation.

Psalm 89 features fifty-three verses. We pray with just six of these verses during this weekend’s Mass, but these few lines reveal that our God is good, kind, just, joyful, faithful, and glorious. This psalm also teaches us that God is strong and all-powerful. Our God is no ordinary god. Our God is exalted. He is superior and high above all other powers in the universe. James L. Mays (1921-2015), a prominent scripture scholar, once explained that God merits our faith and gratitude because he alone can rise above and prevail over the forces of chaos that haunt our sick and suffering world. Dr. Mays said that God’s justice and righteousness are the foundation stones of his heavenly throne; and that God’s love and faithfulness are the ways by which he exercises power in the world (See Interpretation: Psalms, 284-285).

Praying with Psalm 89, we should remain mindful that our song of thanksgiving is united across the ages with believers just like us — past, present, and future. Our humble song is united with the choir of angels and the communion of saints whose voices echo across the heavens for all time. And our little voices are united with the voice of the Crucified and Risen Jesus, who as a faithful Jew, prayed with the psalms during his journey on earth. This powerful spiritual communion brings us closer to God, closer to Christ, closer to each other, and closer to all those who believe in the Creator and Master of the Universe.

So today, when we cry out, Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord!, it is not just you, me, and our brothers and sisters here in Gloucester and Rockport. It is instead the entire People of God who raise their hearts and voices in thanksgiving. From the dawn of time until the end of ages, we proclaim the love and faithfulness of the God of Mercy. We proclaim the justice and righteousness of the One True God. And we give thanks for the Lord’s gifts and blessings, his strength and mercy, his kindness and protection, and his abiding love for each one of us. Thanks be to God! Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord! Amen! Amen!

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (7-2-23)
Bringing Home the Word (7-2-23)
The Kids Bulletin (7-2-23)

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Call to Prayer
A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

Sharing God’s Love
Sacrament of Baptism
Gateway to Life in the Spirit