The monks of the Abbey of Keur Moussa sing Psalm 4: ‘When I call, answer me, O God of justice. From anguish you released me. Have mercy and hear me.’ Can I make this my prayer too? As I listen, can I bring myself before God, trusting in his justice, his goodness, his faithful love?

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Today’s reading is from Psalm 50, or Psalm 51 in other versions of the Bible.

Psalm 50:1b-2,5-6,14-15

The mighty one, God the Lord,

speaks and summons the earth

from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God shines forth.

‘Gather to me my faithful ones,

who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!’

The heavens declare his righteousness,

for God himself is judge.

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and pay your vows to the Most High.

Call on me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.’

Today’s reading from the psalms starts with a vivid image. God summons the whole earth before him. He has something that he wants to say. Picture yourself called before God in that way, one of a huge crowd of people.

It’s not just anyone who has been called. God says, “Gather to me my faithful ones”. What is it like to hear God address you in that way, as one of his “faithful ones”?

There’s an invitation from God here too. “Call to me in the day of trouble.” Can you recall days when you’ve done that? Perhaps today is a day of trouble for you.

Notice, as you hear the passage again, the response that seems to be expected of God’s faithful ones when they hear this message.

Psalm 50:1b-2,5-6,14-15

The mighty one, God the Lord,

speaks and summons the earth

from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God shines forth.

‘Gather to me my faithful ones,

who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!’

The heavens declare his righteousness,

for God himself is judge.

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and pay your vows to the Most High.

Call on me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.’

Part of that response is to glorify God. Speak to God now about what you might do today to give glory to God in this way.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen.