On this first day of each month, as the Psalter begins again with the first Psalm of David, we’re invited to reflect on a vision of the Christian life marked by beauty, truth, and goodness… The beauty of the psalm lies in its image of a flourishing tree planted beside living waters, drawing its life from a source beyond itself… The truth of the psalm is its reminder that there are two paths before us, and only one leads to everlasting life… The goodness of the psalm is found in the daily turning of the heart towards God through prayer, allowing His grace to shape our thoughts, words, and actions. For me, this is one of the greatest treasures of the Ordinariate patrimony. Through the daily recitation of the Psalms, beauty draws us closer to God, truth teaches us His ways, and goodness takes root within us. Last month and the months before, we may have fallen short… But month by month, as the cycle of prayer begins anew, we are invited back to become like that tree planted by the waters: firmly rooted in Christ, fed by His word, and bearing fruit for the life of the world. The image at the heart of the psalm is strikingly beautiful: a tree planted by streams of water, drawing constant nourishment from somewhere hidden and far away… By imitating this image, we don’t merely survive, but we’re given the manna to flourish. The psalm reminds us that holiness comes from consistent, daily engagement with God’s word, not just those occasional bursts of enthusiasm when the time is right. So, David’s first psalm reveals that our journey away from God is seldom sudden. It begins with a step, and seeks out a place to hide away in our lives. Therefore, by watching the path beneath our feet and the desire of our hearts, we begin to recognise these gentle movements within ourselves… Yet the psalm is not merely a warning; it’s an invitation to remain close to God.
Deacon Neil