Psalm 2:6-9

“But I am appointed king by him over Sion his holy mountain, preaching his commandment. The Lord hath said to me: ‘Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the Gentiles for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron, and shalt break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

“Now will I arise, saith the Lord” (Psalm 11:6). Christ the King is introduced for the sake of those that cannot follow the dictates of Psalm 1, for “I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance” (Luke 5:32). Christ is the King of the Catholic Church, the new Sion, which is given the fullness of revelation, that it, like a mountain, may reach into the heavens of the divine mysteries: “I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me” (Psalm 120:1), that is, the truths of God, that you may know His voice and the words He speaks to you: “I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me” (John 10:14). Now, this voice is both the spirit and the instruction of love, for His voice is what draws you into His love: “Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments” (Song 1:3), as well as telling you how to use this gift of love: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3). Thus He preaches His commandments, that you may both love and love well. Then, you get a look into heaven, and the Father’s love for Christ: “Thou art my Son, this day,” that is, eternally, “I have begotten you,” for Love Itself begot the Word Love, that the love of the Father may be expressed through the Word, thus why the Word became incarnate, that the person of Jesus Christ may be the expression to you of the Father’s love for you. The desire for your heart is in all three persons of the Trinity, and you are included in the request for the Gentiles, for you are the inheritance of the Lord, you are the treasure of His heart: “For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also” (Matthew 6:21). This love extends to the ends of the earth; “Holy, holy, holy the Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory” (Isaias 6:3), meaning that in all places, in all things, between you and every person you encounter, Love is. The iron rod is the might of Christ: “Thy arm is with might. Let thy hand be strengthened, and thy right hand exalted: justice and judgement are the preparation of thy throne” (Psalm 88:14-15), which will be extended on that which keeps you from Him. He shall break what is earthly, indicated by the clay of the potter’s vessel, in you, that your affections may be drawn entirely to Him. He will entice you with invitations of sweetness and love, with affections for what is passing fading away as nothing as your heart becomes more and more captivated by Him, reaching entirely to heavenly things: “Thy stature is like to a palm tree” (Song 7:7), which extends entirely towards what is above. When your desires are aimed entirely towards God, you are praying without ceasing, for your heart is always watching for Him: “I sleep, and my heart watcheth” (Song 5:2) for your Beloved.

Psalm 2:1-5

“Why have the Gentiles raged, and the people devised vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the princes met together, against the Lord, and against his Christ. ‘Let us break their bonds asunder: and let us cast away their yoke from us.’ He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh at them: and the Lord shall deride them. Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his rage.”

Look out over the earth, o Theophila, and at the desolation that people are bringing about by sinfulness, by turning against the Lord, and realize that Jesus looks at them in a certain way: “Seeing the multitudes, he had compassion on them: because they were distressed, and lying like sheep that have no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). People rebel from the ways of the Lord and do which is contrary to love, or merely empty work, which is what is meant by rage and vain things. The stream of sinful pattern comes from higher powers than the ordinary people, for they would not be so lead if a path of sinfulness were not laid before them. It is Herod that brought about the massacre of the Holy Innocents, and those that actually committed the atrocities against those children would not have done so were it not for his commands. Similarly, in your time, there are forces at work looking to lead people into sin, be it government, social influence, individuals, and all of these would not be tempted so were it not for the devil and his fallen angels, who all collectively said, “Let us break the bonds of God, and follow our own path,” and seek to bring about the same declaration in the hearts of those they tempt. While this can seem overwhelming and atrocious, particularly when you see the depth, gravity, and multitude of sins taking place, with people flinging off the yoke of true love, acting for themselves and what delights them, take solace in your Mighty King. Before the awesome power of Love, all actions opposed to Him are less than nothing, but crumbs thrown into an ocean of mercy, and that which opposes His kingdom fades, but His love does not fade: “Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever. With a mighty hand and a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 135:11-12). All action against the Most Holy Trinity is but a child crying out against their parent; it does not hurt, it does not wound, but God desires that this be healed, that they may know how loved they are: “For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Therefore, He sees the tiny actions that the nations attempt against His Almighty Majesty and moves against them: “Appoint, O Lord, a lawgiver over them: that the Gentiles may know themselves to be but men” (Psalm 9:21). Sometimes, His voice of correction is a loud one, as He sends His holy angels to prick the consciences of those that are opposed to them. This is why silence and solitude is so oppressive to many, because they must listen to their souls crying out desperately for a change, for while they will to be going in one direction, their nature, so desirous of God, cries, “Convert us, O Lord, to thee, and we shall be converted: renew our days, as from the beginning” (Lamentations 5:21). He is outraged that His child, so wounded and beaten down by the enemies of salvation, has found themselves in this place where they oppose Him. O exile, o bleak life that does not love Love. Thus, it is on you, o Christian, to plant the seeds of love within hearts, that the pressure from their consciences may find an opening to love, that the barren land may be watered and bear fruit. Finally, it is important to use your perspective now to look at the victories of the Lord: The thoughts of pagan temples are ludicrous, which were once everywhere. All that has sought to bring down the Catholic Church has fallen upon itself, with the feebleness of what is false being manifest throughout the centuries. Thus, the Lord laughs and looks with derision upon what is opposed to Him, for these are towers that are built that attempt to climb to heaven that He dismisses in an instant compared to His eternity. What seems dark now will fade, but the merciful love of the Lord is forever, and it is that which will make your life victorious: “To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with me in my throne” (Apocalypse 3:21), like a child in the lap of a loving parent, you will sit with your King, a display of the victorious might of love over the enemy: “O clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice of joy, for the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth. He hath subdued the people under us; and the nations under our feet” (Psalm 46:2-4).

Psalm 1:4-6

“Not so the wicked, not so: but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth. Therefore the wicked shall not rise again in judgement: nor sinners in the council of the just. For the Lord knoweth the way of the just: and the way of thee wicked shall perish.”

The virtue of charity does not consist in works per se or in being polite, but in a burning love of God. Your love of God defines you, and it should be the guide and commander of your life, for this is the path by which you will be brought to your fullest expression. Not so the wicked, not so, for without a sincere love of God that expresses itself in a way of life pleasing to Him: “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), true love cannot exist. There can only be passions, zeal for what is transient, and a focus on oneself, all of which are passing things. While those that know the love of God produce the fruit of love, those that don’t can only reach to an imperfect goodness, the low heights of being a “nice person,” with a treasure as shining as dust or chaff, that the smallest of trials, here seen in the form of wind, will knock over, unveiling the wolf beneath the sheep’s clothing, losing the beautiful gift that they are to the things of the world. Someone whose love is dust, whose work is chaff, does not rise in the general judgement to join the glorious army of Christ. “Know you not that we shall judge angels? How much more things of this world?” (Romans 6:3), which indicates that you will turn, the sword of truth in hand, and will fight against the demons that batter, enslave, and ruin. You have a place above that which torments you, and you will receive justice for what has been done. This is not so for those that know not God, for they will, unfortunately, live in their slavery to the forces of hatred. What one loves defines who they are, and if this has been set on Eternal Love, the lover of God will reign forever, but if one loves the dust of this passing world, “Dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return” (Genesis 3:19).  Finally, Jesus is familiar with the way of the just, for He is the way: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). A life fastened to Him, imitating Him as nearly as possible in love and deed, is the way of the just: “With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments” (Psalm 118:10). Any other way is the road to destruction: “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat” (Matthew 7:13). This is the way that perishes, for it is the way of a heart set on things beside the Lord: “For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also” (Matthew 6:21). Set, therefore o Theophila, your heart upon Jesus, let His immovable love for you be your entire treasure, for love for Him never fades. What was done out of love for Him is a beautiful treasure, no matter how small: “And looking on, he saw the rich men cast their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in two brass mites. And he said: Verily I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her want, hath cast in all the living that she had” (Luke 21:1-4). If you are a brass mite, a humble offering, but put yourself entirely into the Heart of Jesus that He may sculpt you like clay, keeping you malleable by keeping you watered with His love, the treasure that you are will be laid up in heaven, an offering seen, loved, and appreciated by the Divine Bridegroom.

Psalm 1:1-3

“Blessed is the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the chair of pestilence: but his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree which is planted near the running waters, which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season. And his leaf shall not fall off: and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.”

The Psalter begins with an exhortation to wisdom, to immerse oneself in the words of the Lord and live by them, for this is the walk of true love: “How beautiful are thy steps in shoes, O prince’s daughter” (Song 7:1). The Hebrew term for “blessed” here indicates a state of enjoyment due to a good already attained, and this blessedness comes from a life pleasing to God. The happy life is one that is oriented God-ward, for it is a life of love, with Him unveiling His perfect love to the person that walks more and more into His loving arms. Blessed are you, then, when you avoid the words of those whose love is fixed on what is temporal: “Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world” (1 John 2:15); when your way of life is centered on the love of God alone: “Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction” (Matthew 7:13); and when your beliefs in God are accurate, for harmful doctrine is a chair in which one can sit and be utterly infected by falsities: “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees… Then they understood that he said not that they should beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6, 12). No, take the words of Sacred Scripture and live them all out: “If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love” (John 15:10), for this is to subject your will to the law of the Lord, to take the yoke of love upon your back: “Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains…For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy” (Ecclesiasticus 6:25, 29). Take upon yourself a new way of loving, loving according to God’s love rather than your own previous way. Then you shall be as a tree, which always reaches heavenwards, planted beside streams of water, meaning that the roots of your very being will be watered with love, allowing you to grow ever higher in the knowledge of the love of God. It may be a long time of growth, with seemingly nothing taking place, just as a sapling must develop, grow branches, and endure storms before its fruit emerges, but when the time is right, when the Lord knows that the fruit will be of particular sweetness and nourishment, you will bloom in your own expression of love: “The fig tree hath put forth her green figs: the vines in flower yield their sweet smell” (Song 2:13). The leaf that does not fall off is the love that is cultivated, for you will be judged on love alone. “Love never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed” (1 Corinthians 13:8); “Lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal” (Matthew 6:20). This is the leaf that never falls away, and all that is done in love is done well. It does not matter if all your undertakings become complete failures, if your every action is done with love, then all that you do prospers, laying up treasure in heaven and in the hearts of others.