1.2 Response
STAGE 1: Facing Reality
AWE AND WONDER
BEHOLDING HARMONY
RESPONSE
Aim: To realise our duty to respond to God’s creation with an attitude of praise.
Reading
Praising God for creation (Ps 148):
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.
Comment
Psalm 148 is a most solemn and earnest call to all the creatures, according to their capacity, to praise their Creator, and to show forth his eternal power and love as manifested in the things that are seen around us.
Thereby the psalmist passionately urges us to respond to the duty of praise. God deserves to be praised and all are to be engaged in this pleasant work. We must be very cold and dead inside if our hearts are not raised, enlarged and inspired by the lofty flights of divine poetry that we find in this psalm.
Personal Reflection and Sharing
I respond to the “duty of praise” by spending some time in solitude and contemplation. Then I compose and share a brief psalm of praise.
[1-2] CALL RESPONSE COMMITMENT PRAYER