Sunday 19th July 2026

O come, bless the Lord,
all you who serve the Lord,
who stand in the house of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of our God.

Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the Lord through the night.
May the Lord bless you from Zion,
he who made both heaven and earth.

Reflection

I find this comparatively short Psalm intriguing.  It exhorts us to bless the Lord but doesn’t say much else. Perhaps because if we truly bless the Lord all else falls into place.

Many years ago when I was a student and a member of MethSoc I took part in a 24 hour silent prayer vigil.  We were provided with comfort breaks and basic food and drink; we developed a sort of primitive sign language.  We prayed in a church, finding it far more demanding physically, mentally, and spiritually than we thought.  It’s uncomfortable sitting on a pew for hours.  You find yourself praying the same thing over and over;  03.00 all you want to do is sleep.

I remember looking around, seeing my friends and blessing the Lord. When I ate and drank I blessed the Lord for the basics. I was thankful that I did not have to worry about what I would eat.  I even blessed the Lord for a flushing toilet and a place to wash.  I looked around the building and felt that undefinable feeling that comes from many years of worship by many people and felt it almost like a hug wrapping around me.

We are prone to assume our lives will go on much as usual, however, we see refugees / migrants desperate to escape what was their lives.  Would I, in that situation, still bless the Lord?  I would be terrified to the core of my being but would still hope to feel the Lord upholding me.  

How many in the world can bless the Lord with all their being? People are hungry, frightened, homeless, and desperate. There is illness and despair and there are people imprisoned and with no rights.  There is always strife and warfare.

Let us strive to bless the Lord in all we do so that we can be empowered to love all people, care for our planet, and proclaim the coming Kingdom of God. 

Prayer 

Lord, 
help us to bless you 
that we may all look forward to a better future, 
to a time when all will be loved and cared for 
and peace and harmony may abide
in the beautiful world you created.
Amen.