In the dawn of our youth, His lessons took root,
God's goodness and grace, in our hearts did shoot.
Righteous acts and deeds of salvation, we learned,
In His eternal love, our young hearts yearned.
A lifetime spent in faith, trust in Him built,
In the fortress of God, free of guilt.
From a tender age, a relationship strong,
With God at our side, where we belong.
In the twilight of years, His love sustains,
Through joy and sorrow, sunshine and rains.
Our trust in God, a beacon bright,
Guiding us through, the darkest night.
Seeking His guidance, His deliverance we implore,
Relying on Him, now and evermore.
In all circumstances, His presence we perceive,
In His infinite wisdom, we believe.
Acknowledging His glory, in every sunrise,
Expressing gratitude, under the starlit skies.
For sustaining us, through life's highs and lows,
In the garden of faith, the divine flower grows.
REFLECTION:
O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (Psalm 71:17)
We have a duty to share God’s goodness, righteous acts, and deeds of salvation with others.
God has taught us since our youth. Our faith and trust in God have been built over a lifetime, developing a strong relationship with God from a young age, to sustain us in our later years. Our trust is in God, seeking His guidance and deliverance, and relying on Him in all circumstances throughout our lives.
Let us continually acknowledge God’s glory and express our gratitude for sustaining us in all of our lives.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You with humble hearts, acknowledging our duty to share Your goodness, Your righteous acts, and Your deeds of salvation with others. You have been our teacher since our youth, guiding us in Your ways and instilling in us a deep faith and trust in You.
We thank You for the strong relationship we have developed with You from a young age, a relationship that has sustained us and will continue to sustain us in our later years. Our trust is in You, Lord. We seek Your guidance and deliverance, relying on You in all circumstances throughout our lives.
We continually acknowledge Your glory, Lord. We express our deepest gratitude for Your sustaining grace, for being our rock and our fortress in all seasons of our lives.
May we always remember to share Your love and goodness with others, and may our lives be a testament to Your enduring faithfulness.
In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Pericope:
Second Book of Psalms 42-72
PRAYER IN TIME OF OLD AGE
Psalm 71:1-24
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 71:8-9, 14-15, 16-17, 22 (or 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8)
R: I will sing of your salvation.
8 My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your glory day by day. 9 Cast me not off in my old age; as my strength fails, forsake me not. (R) 14 But I will always hope and praise you ever more and more. 15 My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation. (R) 16 I will treat of the mighty works of the Lord; O God, I will tell of your singular justice. 17 O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (R) 22 So will I give you thanks with music on the lyre, for your faithfulness, O my God! I will sing your praises with the harp, O Holy One of Israel! (R)
Background:
Psalm 71 is a heartfelt prayer of an older believer, who in holy confidence of faith, strengthened by a long and remarkable experience, pleads against his enemies, and asks further blessings for himself. Here’s some background information:
Authorship: The authorship of Psalm 71 is not definitively known as there is no title and the text of the psalm does not specify this. Some scholars believe it was written by David during his latter years under the crisis of Absalom’s rebellion. Others regard it as an anonymous composition.
Themes: This psalm is a prayer of an older believer who has faced many trials and problems, but is able to put his focus on the Lord in the midst of these trials. The psalm shows us that God’s way to grow old is to develop a walk with Him.
References to Other Scriptures: Of interest in this psalm are the many references and allusions to other psalms and scriptures. It is reasonable to think the author of Psalm 71 made study and meditation upon God’s word a priority through his life, and the result is that he naturally used the phrases and vocabulary of the Scriptures to pray and praise.
Psalm 71:8-9, 14-15, 16-17, 22: These verses are part of the psalmist’s prayer. He speaks of the faith in God which has sustained him all his life, prays that God will not reject him, declares his witness to God’s salvation, asks for renewed health, and then he will renew his praises.
Learning Lessons:
Psalm 71:8-9, 14-15, 16-17, 22 offers unique lessons for maintaining a life-long walk of faith. Here are some key takeaways:
Trust in God: The psalmist puts his trust in God and seeks His deliverance. This teaches us the importance of relying on God in all circumstances.
Praise Continually: The psalmist’s mouth is filled with God’s praise. This encourages us to continually acknowledge God’s glory and express our gratitude.
Hope and Perseverance: Despite his old age and the challenges he faces, the psalmist continues to hope and praise God. This shows us the importance of maintaining our faith and hope in God, regardless of our circumstances.
Proclaim God’s Righteousness: The psalmist commits to telling of God’s righteous acts and deeds of salvation. This reminds us of our duty to share God’s goodness and salvation with others.
Seek God’s Guidance: The psalmist acknowledges that God has taught him since his youth. This highlights the importance of seeking God’s guidance throughout our lives.
Prepare for Old Age: The psalmist’s faith and trust in God have been built over a lifetime. This teaches us the importance of developing a strong relationship with God from a young age, to sustain us in our later years. (Conversation with Copilot)