Blessing the Lord

Psalm 103 begins with these lines:

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all within me, the holy name of God.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and never forget all God’s benefits.

For the psalmist, it is not just her soul but all within her that is to bless the holy name of God. As Mary also proclaimed, our whole being should bless God’s name—everything within us, including our tendency to be petty, discouraged, jealous, and selfish—because somehow even those parts of us know that God’s name is holy and that God has bestowed many benefits on us.

If we were to sit down every day and draw up a list of God’s benefits, a few new ones would come to mind now and then, but the following benefits would permanently reside on the list:

• The gift of creation, including earth and our own life

• A sense of security and trust that the universe is unfolding as it should

• Companions on life’s journey

• Grace in the tough spots

• God’s everlasting presence

The psalmist insists we should never forget these benefits, because when we forget we lack gratitude, and when we lack gratitude we are dissatisfied and unhappy. Thus it is not just receiving the blessings of God but blessing God in return that is necessary to live a whole and holy life. Blessed are you, Lord our God, who gives us the ability to remember and to bestow blessing!