The Psalm set for today is Psalm 1; here is part of it: ‘Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers’.

St Augustine said, in commenting on this Psalm: ‘And he shall be like a tree planted hard by the running streams of waters; that is either “Very Wisdom”, which vouchsafed to assume man’s nature for our salvation; that as man He might be the tree planted hard by the running streams of waters; for in this sense can that too be taken which is said in another Psalm, “the river of God is full of water”. …and again, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink”; and again, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asks water of you, you would have asked of Him, and He would have given you living water”, “of which whoever drinks shall never thirst, but it shall be made in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”’.

Let us place the ‘tree’ of our life by the living waters of Christ, that we may draw everlasting life both now and for the life to come. We do this by the sacraments, by our prayer, and by the grace of God active in our everyday lives. May we trust His promises in all things, and may God bless you this day.