Bless the Lord, my soul! And all that is within me, bless His holy Name. Psalm 101:1. It is my belief that this verse does not simply speak to the physicality of our bodies; it does not suggest that our lungs and other organs should audibly praise Him. Indeed, while our lungs function mechanically to produce breath and vocalize words, the essence of this verse pertains to the ears of mankind. Just as God has ears, so too does the heart have a voice. A person turns inward, calling upon their very being to bless God, exclaiming, "All that is within me, bless His holy Name!" In this sense, the meaning refers back to the call to bless the Lord, as expressed previously: "Bless the Lord, O my soul," where the term "Bless" is implied. Vocalize your praise to those who will hear, yet remain silent in the absence of an audience; do not neglect that which lies within you. Hence, we have already proclaimed blessings through our speech as we echoed this declaration. We praised Him as long as we had the opportunity, then fell silent. Should our internal spirit become silent when it comes to the blessings of the Lord? Let our voices alternately extoll Him, while our hearts continuously sing praise. When you gather in worship to sing hymns, your voice offers praise to God: you have sung your heart out; as you depart, may your spirit continue to give Him thanks. While engaged in daily tasks, let your soul honor God. When you eat, recall what the apostle conveys: “Whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31. And even in slumber, let your soul uplift the Lord. Refrain from letting thoughts of wrongdoing disturb your mind, avoid desires for theft, and reject plans of deceitful dealings. Your innocence, even in sleep, resounds with the voice of your soul.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits. Psalm 102:2. Yet, the Lord’s benefits can only be recognized when we are aware of our sins. Let past transgressions not be the source of your joy, but rather allow the acknowledgment of sin to bring about condemnation in your heart: condemnation from yourself, yet forgiveness from God. The Lord rewards you so that you may ponder, “How shall I repay the Lord for all His benefits towards me?” This is what the martyrs we honor today and all the saints who scorned this life reflected upon, as noted in the epistle of St. John, who laid down their lives for their brethren, embodying the perfection of love. 1 John 3:16, as our Lord stated: “There is no greater love than this, than if a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13. These holy martyrs, therefore, esteemed their earthly lives as of little value in pursuit of life eternal, following the Lord's teaching: “He who loves his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it to eternal life.” Forget not, He says, all His rewards; they are rewards indeed. The other benefits were deserved, and yet those that were not due were graciously given. Therefore, what shall I repay the Lord for all His benefits? You have repaid good with evil; He rewards evil with good. How then have you, O man, repaid God with malice in exchange for His goodness? You once were a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent individual, rewarded rightly for your transgressions. For what good? Firstly, because you exist; but even cattle possess life. What thanks can you offer the Lord for having created you in His image, surpassing all other creatures? Genesis 1:26-27. Seek not a way to repay Him: return to Him His image; that is what He desires; He asks for nothing more than His own coin. Matthew 22:21.
Ponder, O soul, the numerous rewards of God while reflecting on your very sins: for as many as your wrongdoings, so many are His great rewards. And what, pray tell, can you offer Him as a gift, as an offering, or as a sacrifice...? What shall your recompense to the Lord be? For in contemplation, you find nothing that satisfies: “I will accept the cup of salvation.” What? Did not the Lord Himself provide the cup of salvation? Should you repay Him from your own resources? I would argue, No, do not offer from your own; God knows no want of payment from you. To return something from your own means merely rewarding sin. All that you possess comes from Him; your sins are solely your own. He does not wish a reward from your hand; He accomplishes His purpose from His own. It is akin to presenting a sheaf of wheat to a farmer, from the seeds sown by him; such is no true gift. If you present him with thorns, you sacrifice nothing of worth. Reward truth: genuinely praise the Lord; if you intend to give from your own means, you deceive yourself. He who speaks a lie, speaks from his own nature. John 8:44. But he who speaks truth speaks the Lord’s. Moreover, to accept the cup of salvation signifies emulating the Lord's Passion. I will drink from the cup of Christ; I will partake in the suffering of the Lord. Take heed that you do not falter. I will call upon the Lord’s name, for those who failed did not call upon Him; they leaned upon their own strength. Return, bearing in mind that you are merely returning what you have received. Therefore, let your soul bless the Lord, lest you forget all His benefits.
Observe all His benefits; He who forgives all your iniquities: heals all your diseases. Psalm 101:3. Consider His gifts. What was due to the sinner, outside of punishment? What was owed to the blasphemer but a fiery torment? Yet, He granted no such penalties, so that you would not live in constant fear, devoid of love for Him. And while you are a sinner, turn back to receive His blessings: He forgives all your iniquities. Yet even after sins are forgiven, the soul may still grapple with passions; it navigates temptations, desires what should be shunned, and sometimes consents to that which pleases it, finding itself ensnared. It is a weakness, yet He heals all your infirmities. You must be assured that all your maladies will be mended; fear not. Although they may seem overwhelming, remember the Physician is even greater. No ailment stands as incurable to the Almighty Healer; simply allow yourself to be restored; do not reject His healing touch; He knows how to restore you. Rejoice when He comforts you, but also endure when He administers the necessary correction; bear the pain of healing while envisioning your future wellness. Do not linger in doubt; He who promises you healing cannot lead you astray. Human physicians may be misled, pledging health to the body and yet failing. Why? Because they do not govern their own beings. God created your body and soul. He knows how to mend what He has designed; He understands how to renew what He once formed: only submit to the hands of the Physician, for He despises those who spurn His care.
Who redeems your life from destruction. Psalm 101:4. Observe how a corrupt body burdens the soul. Wisdom 9:15. Thus, the soul discovers life encased in a corrupt body. What kind of life is this? It is laden with troubles and burdened with weight. How difficult it is for those encumbered by sin to contemplate God; is it feasible for humanity to focus on the Divine when distraction springs from human frailty? An array of influences distracts and interrupts, swarming like maggots in the heart. We have acknowledged the gravity of our afflictions; now let us extol the Great Healer. Would not He who fashioned you for health mend you, provided you choose to observe the guidelines of health imparted to you? Reflect first on your own wellness. Sometimes a person is struck by illness in their own home, in their own bed, by an apparent ailment they would rather ignore, yet which cannot be disregarded. However, one may suffer from a disease perceived to be unworthy of notice; they may endure a fevered sickness in bed but feel compelled to sort out domestic affairs or make arrangements regarding property. Such worldly concerns often are disrupted by the frantic urgings of friends; they jestingly demand you put aside these thoughts to prioritize your health. Likewise, this message is for you and all mankind: if you find yourself well, consider the state of others; if your body fails to bear testimony to ailment, it need only serve as a reminder that you must remain vigilant for good health. Christ is your wellness; therefore focus on Christ. Accept the cup of salvation He offers, which heals all your ills; if you desire it, you will find this Healer alive and active among you. Your life has been redeemed from destruction; be at peace now; the contract of grace is established; no one deceives or tricks you; your Redeemer is true. Here, He has initiated the exchange; He has already paid the price by shedding His blood. The only Begotten Son of God shed His blood for us; so, soul, arise! Such is the cost of your redemption.
Who crowns you with mercy and kindness. Perhaps you felt pride swell within when you heard, “He crowns you.” Then you are set to earn it; but by whose strength? Yours, yet provided by Him. He bestows this crown because He honors His own gifts, not your accomplishments. The Apostle affirms: “I labored more than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10. And thus, by this grace, you shall wear a crown; have no pride in your labors; always extol the Lord, and never forget His benefits. It is a blessing that you, a sinful and wretched being, are called to justification. It is a reward that you are elevated and guided to avoid falling. It is a gift that you are empowered to endure until the end. It is a blessing that your body, which once oppressed you, will rise again; not a hair of your head will be lost. It is a blessing that after your resurrection, you will be crowned. It is a blessing that you will be able to exalt God forever and ever without interruption.
After the struggle, I shall find the crown; after receiving the crown, what shall I do? He who satisfies your desires with good things. Psalm 102:5. Seek good for yourself, O soul. What is beneficial differs among creatures; each has its own good tailored to their nature's completeness. There exists disparity in essentials for perfection among each imperfect entity; thus, pursue good for yourself. There is only One who is good, and that is, God. Matthew 19:17. How can anything be lacking for the one who possesses the highest good? For there are lesser goods that serve lesser creatures well. What, dear brethren, is good for livestock? To fill their stomachs, to avoid hunger, to rest, to enjoy themselves, to exist, to enjoy health, and to multiply. All of this is indeed good for them, within the bounds designated by God, the Creator. Do you seek such goods? God will provide them, yet do not pursue these exclusively. Fellow heir of Christ, can you delight in the company of cattle? Elevate your hopes to the Best of all goods. He will bestow goodness upon you, through whom you were made right, and through whom all things in their own nature were deemed good, for God created everything to be very good.
THEOSIS