Today’s scripture readings call us to look deeply within, pray for ourselves as sinners and for others who have sinned, and recognize anew that Jesus is our Savior.

Today, we read of John the Baptist testifying to Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. He articulated his role as the one who directed the people to Christ and told them his joyous role had been made complete and that he would decrease as Jesus increased.

Just as John tells the faithful of his joy, we are called to joy today through the beautiful psalm verses. The response to the psalm verses is especially encouraging as we read that the Lord takes delight in us when we praise him in prayer, song, and even dance. When we pray, we often forget to pray with joy! Perhaps we pray often in repentance of our failures or when we concentrate fervently on our petitions when we are suffering, worried, or overwhelmed. How often do we pray our prayers of praise?

I remember walking years ago with our parish teens through our town as they began their 24-hour famine during Lent. The leader of the march would exuberantly shout, “God Is Good,” and the throng of teens joyfully proclaimed, “All the Time!” I found myself shouting the response with them. Looking back now, I can see this was a simple song of praise, and I’m convinced our Lord was smiling and delighted.

Can we make this day a day of prayer through praise. Praise our Lord for all creation! Praise our Lord for the gift of Jesus! Praise our Lord for giving us life! Praise our Lord for the gift of faith! Praise our Lord for the gift of freedom! “God is good – All the time!”

Prayer:

Jesus, our Manna from Heaven, in your gift of the Eucharist, you grant us to taste the extent of your goodness; you give consummate proof that those who revere God will lack no blessing. May our praise, hope, and trust in you draw down upon us your merciful love, for you care unceasingly for those who are just and humble of heart. Amen. (Taken from Praise God in His Holy Place, by Bernard J. Camiré SSS)