by Archdeacon Claire Phelps
Dear Family of St John’s
“Walk about Zion, go around her, count her towers, consider well her ramparts…” (Psalm 48:12-13)
By now I’m sure you all know how much I love the Psalms. Well, Psalm 48 was one of our lectionary readings this week. Another favourite of mine!
Psalm 48 is a joyful song of praise. The psalmist invites God’s people to stop, look around, and take notice of what God has done. They are encouraged to walk through the city, noticing its strength and beauty, and remembering that behind every tower and wall stood the faithfulness of God, their protector and guide.
I think this is something many of us struggle to do.
Life moves at a relentless pace. There are emails to answer, errands to run, family responsibilities to juggle, bills to pay, appointments to keep, and a seemingly endless stream of news updates. Before we know it, another week has passed. We can become so focused on what needs fixing, solving, or surviving that we forget to notice what God is already doing around us.
Our society trains us to focus on the negative. Turn on the news and the headlines are rarely about kindness, generosity, beauty, or hope. Social media can amplify complaints and anxieties. Conversations can easily drift towards what is wrong rather than what is right. Over time, we can find ourselves looking for problems rather than blessings.
Psalm 48 invites us to do something different. The psalmist says, in effect, “Take a walk. Look around. Notice.”
You may remember that I invited you to “Look around you, can you see?” in my article a few weeks ago. To look at the needs of our world and to pray… Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.
We’re now being invited to look in another way.
Notice the beauty of creation. Notice the sunrise that colours the sky over our city. Notice the laughter of children. Notice the friend who phones at just the right moment. Notice the meal on your table, the roof over your head, the opportunities you have been given. Notice the quiet ways God provides, protects, comforts, and guides.
When we pause and pay attention, we begin to see evidence of God’s goodness everywhere.
Think for a moment about your own life. Where have you seen God’s faithfulness? Perhaps it was a door that unexpectedly opened. Perhaps it was strength for a difficult season. Perhaps it was healing, provision, friendship, wisdom, or peace when you needed it most. Some blessings arrive dramatically, while others are woven so gently into our daily lives that we barely notice them.
Psalm 48 reminds us that remembering is an important spiritual practice. The people of God were encouraged to tell the next generation about God’s faithfulness. They weren’t simply to admire the city’s walls; they were to remember what those walls represented – God’s presence, God’s protection, and God’s care.
The same is true for us. When we remember what God has done, our faith is strengthened for whatever lies ahead.
One of the beautiful songs inspired by this psalm includes the words: “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.” What a wonderful phrase to carry with us through the week. Not because every day is easy, but because God’s greatness isn’t dependent on our circumstances. He remains faithful whether we’re standing on a mountaintop or walking through a valley.
Perhaps this week you could make a conscious effort to slow down for a few moments each day. Take a walk. Sit quietly with a cup of coffee (or tea, if you prefer). Spend a few minutes in prayer. Ask yourself: Where have I seen God’s hand at work today? What gifts have I received that I might otherwise overlook? What beauty has God placed before me?
You may be surprised by how much there is to notice.
We have recently restructured our Agenda for Parish Council meetings, spending more time in prayer before we start. And answering the question: “Where have we seen God working in our parish since we last met?”
Naming those instances is immensely encouraging! As we learn to look for God’s goodness, we begin to see more of it. Our hearts become more grateful. Our faith becomes more resilient. Our joy grows deeper.
So, this week, let Psalm 48 be your invitation: pause, look around, remember, and rejoice.
For truly, “this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.” (Psalm 48:14)
Enjoy this musical reflection on Psalm 48: Great Is the Lord.
Great is the Lord – Musical Reflection
With love
Your friend and rector,
Claire