There’s a lot of praising in Psalm 148. Everything created is offering a chorus of praise to its Designer, and we as God’s Created Ones should never forget to give Him honour and thanks for the beauty of living in our world, on His planet – with shining stars above and muddy, life giving, earth below. It’s here we live and where we’re nourished by God’s Holy Spirit moving around us, within us and embracing us. In Psalm 148 angels, stars, rivers, mountains, cattle and creeping things join with our humanity as a choir singing to Our Creator.
As we read this Psalm with the spirit of St Francis we can understand how these words were deeply felt by him. His mind considered all Creation as a family of Our Father. Our brother, Jesus Christ, is reflected as Sir Sun, the Moon becomes our sister. Perhaps Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures is the infant child of Psalm 148?
Psalm 148 : Praise for God’s Universal Glory
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
4 Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for he commanded and they were created.
6 He established them for ever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
8 fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9 Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!
11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!
Hear also: The Canticle of the Creatures – St Francis’ words of praise based on Psalm 148
and hear: All Creatures of Our God and King – A hymn based on St Francis’ canticle
Images : Elyce Feliz on Flickr
Stained Glass Window at Spring Spring Grove Memorial Mausoleum
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