From the Organ Bench

Psalm 122
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the LORD.
On this first Sunday of Advent our responsorial psalm is a repeat of last week’s
selection. However, this week we are blessed to have the entire text of the psalm.
Last week we celebrated the kingship and eternal victory of Jesus, our king. This
week we begin a new church year. Our psalm knits the old year to the new one in a
continuous hymn of praise. In the LORD’s kingdom, praise goes forth from age to
age, century to century, year to year, day by day.
In the spirit of celebrating a new liturgical year, this day, I found myself making
the annual list of New Year’s Resolutions. At the top of my list is the resolution to
know the Lord more fully. This year just knowing about God will not do. I cannot
afford to surround myself with just facts about God no matter how lofty and sacred
those facts may be. If I were to amass all the facts of historical geography, biblical
archeology, word studies, exegetical exercises in my quest, I would still fall short of
my goal. Knowing the LORD is more than facts about L’Eternel one of Israel.
However, facts point to and lead us to knowing. So I will examine biblical maps a
little more closely. I will dig for God a little more deeper and dust off the
archeological treasures that someone else has discovered for my benefit. I will parse
words a little more sharply with the paring knife of Greek grammar. And I will
rejoice with every little morsel that I find. Rejoice I will, for I have forty-seven old
resolutions shaping my joy of knowing. This year I will go to the house of the Lord,
open the door and step inside rejoicing because:
The Lord is the Creator of all things (Genesis).
The Lord forms a chosen people and leads them through oppression (Exodus).
The Lord is the Author of holiness (Leviticus).
The Lord is the provider of social order, even when a people are on the move
(Numbers).
The Lord is God - Alone (Deuteronomy).
The Lord is the Conquering Hero (Joshua).
The Lord is the Charismatic Leader (Judges).
The Lord is Redeemer even of those who despise us (Ruth).
The Lord is King (1st Samuel).
The Lord is really The King, not a pretender (2nd Samuel).
The Lord is Faithful when kingdoms are destroyed (1st Kings).
 The Lord is the Temple of Worship (2nd Kings).
The Lord is a Promise Keeper (1st Chronicles).
The Lord is Truth (2nd Chronicles).
The Lord is a Reformer (Ezra).
The Lord is Steadfast Love (Nehemiah).
The Lord is a Listener to those who suffer (Tobit).
The Lord is Omnipotent Support (Judith).
The Lord is Not Spineless to evil (Esther).
The Lord is Patient (Job)
The Lord is a Poet and Songwriter (Psalms)
The Lord is my Teacher (Proverbs).
The Lord is my Preacher (Ecclesiates).
The Lord is my Lover (Song of Songs).
The Lord is my Edification in times of trouble (Wisdom).
The Lord is my Guide on the journey of life (Ecclesiasticus).
The Lord is New Vision and Suffering Servant (Isaiah).
The Lord is the Master of History (Jeremiah).
The Lord is Hope (Lamentations).
The Lord is Mercy (Baruch).
The Lord is the Source of Spiritual Revival (Ezekiel).
The Lord is Unique and Superior to any captor (Daniel).
The Lord is Faithfulness (Hosea).
The Lord is Refuge (Joel).
The Lord is the Source of all Morals (Amos).
The Lord is a Universal Ruler (Obadiah).
The Lord is Compassionate to all (Jonah)
The Lord is Owner of the remnants (Micah).
The Lord is Consolation on the day of trouble (Nahum).
The Lord is Intervener (Habakkuk).
The Lord is Cosmic Righteousness (Zephaniah).
The Lord is Messianic Promise (Haggai).
The Lord is a Providential Re-Builder of all things, including liturgy.(Zechariah).
The Lord is Unchangeable (Malachi).
The Lord is Courage in the face of threats (1st Maccabees).
The Lord is Courage in the face of death (2nd Maccabees).
Happy New Year!
Delma Rouleau
1st Sunday of Advent, 2010