Call to Worship and Obedience
August 7, 2023 - Monday, 18th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 81:12-17
Psalm 81 has a twofold structure. The first part contains a call to praise God probably for the blessing of harvest during the festival of Tabernacles (Ps 81:2-6). The second part contains a divine speech that contains a history lesson for the readers of this psalm (Ps 81:7-17). The first part of that speech centres on the Exodus from Egypt (Ps 81:7-11). The second part that we hear today in our responsorial psalm focuses on Israel’s unfaithfulness to God’s covenant and invites them to repentance (Ps 81:12-17). Israel belongs to God who liberated them from slavery in Egypt. Therefore, they should not worship other gods, they should not harden their hearts, nor walk according to their counsels (Ps 81:14-15).
I have already mentioned on our podcast that the Feast of Tabernacles was celebrated in the fall, usually in September or October and as all major Jewish festivals it has agricultural, historical and future significance. First of all, it celebrated the end of the harvest season. It also celebrated the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness. Finally, it looked forward to the age to come when all the righteous people would live in God’s presence forever. Thus, it was a fitting festival to remind God’s people of their history and call them to renew their commitment to their covenant with God. Worship of God cannot be separated from obedience to God; liturgy and morality must go hand in hand.
The greatest festivals of our Church are Christmas and Easter. During those festivals, we are also called to worship God for two incredible acts of His mercy: the birth of Jesus and His death and resurrection. Moreover, the Church sets Sunday - the day of the Lord - as “the original feast day” and “the foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year” (see Sacrosanctum Concilium 106). By participating in the Eucharist on this day, we are invited to “call to mind the passion, the resurrection and the glorification of the Lord Jesus, and … thank God who “has begotten [us] again, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto a living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3) (see also Sacrosanctum Concilium 106).
The great festivals of the Church recall for us the history of salvation. We have been set free from the slavery of sin. To save us, the Word became flesh and dwelled among us. Jesus Christ did not hold on to His divine status but embraced our fallen humanity. As Saint Paul writes, “he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Phil 2:8). What is our response to this great act of salvation? Then, Jesus calls us to follow him and tells us: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Do we listen to the voice of Jesus? Do we live by the values of the Gospel?
In Psalm 81, the Lord complains that His people “would not listen to” Him and then he makes this promise: “If only my people would hear me, and Israel walk in my ways, quickly would I humble their enemies; against their foes I would turn my hand” (Ps 81:14-15). Jesus promises that those who listen to his voice will have an abundance of life. Let every Sunday celebration and all the yearly great feasts of the Church be a constant call to examine and renew our relationship with the Lord.