tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12629468.post6723153302360573891..comments2023-05-12T04:28:28.504-05:00Comments on Daily Bread: More Adventures in TranslationPrior Peter, OSBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04955043134006446842noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12629468.post-32860742475623013532007-11-06T20:34:00.000-06:002007-11-06T20:34:00.000-06:00I think among things it is wise to look at the dif...I think among things it is wise to look at the different places this text appears in the Liturgy of the Hours. <BR/><BR/>For example: It appeared the on Sunday, Evening Prayer I. It appears in Evening Prayer II of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It appears in the Common of Apostles, also Evening Prayer II. It appears in the Common of Martyrs. It appears in the Liturgy of the Hours for Corpus Christi. This same Psalm is the Responsorial Psalm for the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. It is also one of the Psalms on Good Friday.<BR/><BR/>To add my own two cents here, I think the whole Psalm speaks of death in it's most paradoxical meaning for Christ and Christians. On one hand it acknowledges the terror all human hearts experience when they think of death. On the other, I think it talks about the death of the faithful sharing in Christ's passion and victory over death.<BR/><BR/>I have often thought the meaning of "I will fullfill my vows before your people." As meaning the call to be faithful to the call of Christ to be persistent of God's will in the most difficult circumstances.<BR/><BR/>One of the most influencial Martyrs to me is St. Maximilian Kolbe, who was not afraid to die for the Mother of God. Infact, he longed to shed his blood for His Lady. He placed himself at the service of God in his fellow man, regardless of the cost. At one point, he was arrested by the Gestapo (pardon the spelling) for printing anti Nazi literature in his magazine. Later on he was arrested again, transported to Auschwitz until he offered his life in place of another man contemned to die by starvation. Even in the starvation bunker, St. Maximilian encouraged everyone to embrace the final victory in the midst of a chamber of suffering and death. Yet, he brought the message of the Gospel regardless of the fact that He was dying.<BR/><BR/>Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful, I think means, that God delights in a soul that will give unceasingly to God and His people without counting the cost, without wondering what's in it for him. He just knows, because he gives of himself as freely as possible. God welcomes one so faithful to Himself, and honors those who give of themselves without limits, and total trust in God's Mercy. To do this, follows the example of Christ's death and victory on the Cross. Those who die faithfully, follow that example without reservation and full of love for God and His people.<BR/><BR/>This is what I think it means.<BR/><BR/>Philip (PhilipLoweJ@aol.com)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com