School of the Word
Praying with the Psalms 5/6: Psalm 103
by Maureen Tan
By Maureen Tan// Passages
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless
his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all
his benefits - who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your
diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with
steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as
you live, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and
abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will
he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to
our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. I'For as the
heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast love
toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us. As a father has
compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those
who fear him. For he knows how we were made; he remembers
that we are dust. As for mortals, their days are like grass; they
flourish like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it
is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of
the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him,
and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his
covenant and remember to do his commandments.
(Psalm 103: 1-5, 8-18)
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the
Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the
city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the
Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood
behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her
tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet
and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who
had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet,
he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is
touching him--that she is a sinner." Jesus spoke up and said to him,
"Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Teacher," he replied,
"speak."
"A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred
denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the
debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon
answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt."
And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly."...
Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven;
hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven,
loves little." Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." But
those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves,
"Who is this who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your
faith has saved you; go in peace."
(Luke 7: 36-43: 47-50)
// Questions
In my journey of faith, what does it mean to pray with a contrite
heart?
What is the way that God is inviting me to respond to
God's merciful love?
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