Daily Prayer: a resource of Forward Movement

The Forward Day by Day Meditation for February 5, 2021

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FRIDAY, February 5 The Martyrs of Japan

Psalm 69:32 I will praise the Name of God in song; I will proclaim his greatness with thanksgiving.

Ezra is five, and I tease his parents that he is like the cartoon character Dennis the Menace, with his curiosity and chatter. Upon learning his daddy’s middle name is David like the ancient King of Israel, Ezra wanted to know more about the king. I told him the story of David slaying Goliath, and he wanted to know more. So I told Ezra how David tended sheep, fought battles, danced, and played music. More questions followed. What is a shepherd? How did he kill bears? Where were his parents? And finally, what was the most important thing about David? I told him David wrote songs and prayers people still read today even though David lived long ago.

Many of us read from the psalms every day and for good reason. They express every human emotion. David, in particular, was determined to go to God with all of himself. He expressed joy, gratitude, anger, fear, sorrow, regret, and discouragement and yet always ended up praising God. Jesus prayed the psalms as well, and centuries later, they can enlighten, encourage, and console us as well.

MOVING FORWARD: Commit to reading a psalm a day for the next week.

PRAY for the Diocese of Amritsar (North India)

Ps 69:1-23(24-30)31-38 * 73 | Isaiah 56:1-8 | Galatians 5:16-24 | Mark 9:2-13