From: John ZuHone
The Psalms for today are from David, in various states of distress, mainly due to persecution by Saul. Not just these, but a lot of Psalms focus on evildoers who want to injure or even kill the servant of God.
I have to admit that sometimes I find these Psalms hard to relate to. As far as I know, no one is coming to kill me. Compared to the millions of Christians around the world today facing persecution for their faith, I live in relative physical safety.
But we all know that there is a battle for our souls going on, and it is no less real. Satan is seeking to capture and kill us. There are so many distractions and temptations to draw us away from God that life can sometimes feel like “a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.” That’s why we need to “gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory”, as we hear about what Jesus has done for us in the Gospel, and receive his body and blood in the Eucharist.
Let’s pray today for those who are undergoing persecution for their faith around the world, that God would strengthen them, protect them, and bring an end to the works of those who do evil.
I’m an astrophysicist at the Harvard Observatory, studying galaxy clusters and X-ray astronomy. I enjoy spending time with my wife and son, having good conversation with friends, reading books, and playing the occasional Mario game.