2 June | EVERYONE

BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL

«Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.» Psalm 103:1-5

The cypress trees that decorate the entrance of this residence do not attenuate the sadness of the place. At the end of the day, renaming a psychiatric hospital does not alleviate the drama of the people in there. Who do they find there Themselves, perhaps. Maybe imaginary ghosts, who knows. It might be memories that torture them endlessly. Or the guilt that hits them relentlessly, I do not know.

There, lost in the labyrinths of his fears, he spent his days and nights, weeks and months, a human being tormented with guilt, burdened with pain, with the memory of the suffering he caused to others, and who now clothed himself in a death that stalked him day and night.

He had just come out of his third suicide attempt, and he spent hours crying like a heartbroken child. That is, until the day the clinic’s chaplain told him about God’s love and the wonder of forgiveness. Then he discovered in God his source of peace. It turns out that in him he had, as today’s text proclaims, the forgiver of his sins, the healer of his ailments... To his loving rescuer, always eager to bless.

It took him weeks and months to understand that the suffering of sinners was already endured by the Lord Jesus on the cross of Calvary, but at last he opened his heart to the Savior. The Holy Spirit illuminated his world of darkness and saw a new day dawn.

There is nothing you or I can do to erase the past, but one thing is possible: trust in God’s wonderful love and promise of forgiveness.

Take Action

Remember, once again, that God does not ask you to bless, praise, and worship Him because He needs it, but because it is good for you. It fills you with positivity and helps you keep your past blessings in mind, so that you can evoke them in your next trials. Sing “Bless the Lord, O My Soul” (if possible, with your family).