Bless the Lord, O my soul! And all that is within me bless His holy Name. Psalm 102:1. I believe this is not an appeal to the physical body; it does not suggest that our lungs or liver should declare the Lord’s praise. While our lungs mechanically produce breaths that allow us to voice our words, this does not encompass the entirety of its meaning; this relates to the inner ear. God has ears, and the heart has a voice as well. A person turns to their innermost being and encourages it to bless God, proclaiming, “All that is within me, bless His holy Name!” What does it mean to speak of what is inside you? It is your very soul. Therefore, when you say, “All that is within me bless His holy Name,” it echoes previous sentiments, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” because the command to “bless” is implied. Shout out if there are ears to hear; remain silent if none can listen, but never silence what is within you. Thus, we have already uttered blessings with our lips as we recited those words. We sang as long as we had opportunity, and when our time for song was over, should our heart remain silent in blessing the Lord? Let our voices offer Him praise periodically, but let the voice of our hearts be perpetual. When you attend church to sing a hymn, lift your voice in praise to God: you sing until you leave, and let your soul continue to bless God. In your daily work, let your soul bless God. When you share your meals, heed the apostle’s words: Whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31. I would even say, as you sleep, let your soul praise the Lord. Do not let thoughts of wrongdoing disturb you; do not allow schemes of theft distract you; do not permit thoughts of deceitful plans to sway you. Your purity is, even in sleep, the voice of your soul.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Psalm 102:2. Yet you cannot perceive the Lord’s benefits unless you first confront your own sins. Do not allow the joy of past transgressions to cloud your vision; instead, let the guilt of sin be your focus: your conviction and God’s forgiveness. For, as God repays you, you should ask, “What can I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?” This was the consideration of the martyrs (whose memory we honor today) and all the saints who devalued this earthly existence, as you heard in the words of St. John, who laid down their lives for their brethren, as love is perfected. 1 John 3:16. Our Lord also said: There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for friends. John 15:13. These holy martyrs, in their contemplation, undervalued their earthly lives to attain eternal ones, following the Lord’s teaching: “He who loves his life shall lose it, but he who loses his life for My sake shall find it.” Forget not, He commands us, all His benefits—not merely benefits but rewards. For what is owed has been paid, and what is not owed has also been repaid. Thus, the question arises: what shall I repay the Lord for all His rewards to me? You have returned evil for good; He answers evil with good. Consider how you have, as a person who once blasphemed and persecuted, returned evil for good. 1 Timothy 1:13. For what good? First, because you exist; but there is also a foundational truth. Next, because you live, yet even animals live. How can you repay the Lord, who created you in His image, above all creatures? Genesis 1:26-27. Seek not how to repay Him: return His image; that is what He desires, His own coin. Matthew 22:21.
Reflect, O soul, on all God’s rewards, while considering your transgressions: for as numerous as your iniquities, so are His blessings. What offering, what gift, what sacrifice can you present to Him? What can you return to the Lord? In deep contemplation, you cannot find a worthy return: I will take the cup of salvation. But, was it not the Lord who provided the cup of salvation? Can you repay Him from what is already His? I would caution against that; do not attempt to repay Him from your own resources; God does not seek recompense from you. If you attempt to repay from your own holdings, you only repay sin. All that you possess is from Him; only your sins are truly yours. He does not want your recompense to come from you; He wills His own purpose to be fulfilled. Just as if you bring a sheaf of wheat to the farmer, you repay him with his own produce; should you instead bring him thorns, you have sacrificed worthless offerings. Return in truth to the Lord; if you wish to offer Him something of your own, you only deceive yourself. The one who speaks lies speaks from their own self. John 8:44. If a lie is one’s own, then speaking the truth is acknowledging the Lord’s. Yet, what is it to accept the cup of salvation if not to emulate the Passion of the Lord? I will accept the cup of Christ; I will drink of the Lord’s Passion. Beware lest you falter! I will call upon the name of the Lord. Those who stumbled did not call on the Lord; they relied solely on their own strength. Return to your Creator, remembering that you are giving back what you have received. Thus let your soul bless the Lord, lest you forget all His benefits.
Take heed of His benefits. He forgives all your iniquities; He heals all your diseases. Psalm 102:3. Observe His benefits. What, apart from punishment, is owed to a sinner? What is due to a blasphemer but a hell of fire? He did not deliver such punishments, so that you need not tremble in fear but can love Him. You are a sinner; turn back and accept His rewards: He forgives all your iniquities. Yet, even after the forgiveness of sins, the soul endures some passions; it remains amidst temptations; it still desires certain pleasures; some it resists and others it consents to. This is an ailment, yet He heals all your diseases. Do not be afraid. You may claim that they are significant, but the Physician is greater. No illness presents itself as incurable to the Almighty Healer. Only allow yourself to be healed; do not resist His touch; He knows how to treat you. You shall rejoice not only when He comforts you, but also when He administers correction; endure the pain of healing while keeping watch for your future wholeness. Do not linger in uncertainty; He who promised health cannot be deceived. Human physicians may err, promising a cure for the body; why might they be mistaken? Because they do not treat their own nature. God formed your body and soul; He has the knowledge to restore what He created, and knows how to recreate what He has previously formed. Only endure under the Physician’s care, for He rejects those who turn away from Him.
Who redeems your life from destruction. Psalm 102:4. Consider how a corrupt body weighs down the soul. Wisdom 9:15. Thus, the soul encounters existence within a corrupt body. What kind of life is this? It bears burdens, aches, and sufferings. How many distractions hinder thoughts of God; what right do we have to think of God while being drawn away by human corruption? Numerous influences disturb us, countless thoughts scatter our minds when they are set on higher things. The heart of humanity swarms as if with the worms of moral decay. We have recognized the depth of disease; let us also commend the Healer. Would He who created you to be healthy not heal you, should you choose to observe the law of health bestowed upon you? Consider your own wellbeing first. Sometimes a man lies ill in his own home, in his bed, struck down by an apparent malady. Though the disorder is apparent to those around him, he may be suffering from fever, while focusing on matters of his estate and home. Friends, visibly anxious, urge him to set aside such concerns and prioritize his healing. Therefore, I entreat you and every person: if you are not ill, consider another need; yet if the very signs of illness demonstrate your need, address your health first. Christ embodies your health; therefore, focus on Christ. Accept the cup of His salvation; it heals all your infirmities. If you choose, you may receive this healing. For you have been redeemed from destruction: rest now, for the contract of goodwill has been established; no one deceives, no one undermines, no one oppresses you; your Redeemer is steadfast. He has made the exchange, He has paid the price, He has shed His blood. The Only-begotten Son of God, I emphasize, shed His blood for us; arise, O soul, for so great is your value. He will redeem your life from destruction.
Who crowns you with steadfast love and compassion. Perhaps, upon hearing, “He crowns you,” you became proud. Yet, recall, by whose strength have you triumphed? Yours, but granted by Him. He crowns you, acknowledging His own gifts, not your worthiness. The Apostle stated, “I labored more than any of them,” but he added, “Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” 1 Corinthians 15:10. And by His grace, you shall receive a crown; boast in nothing; always praise the Lord; do not forget all His rewards. It is a reward that you—wretched and sinful—are called to righteousness; it is a reward when He lifts you up and guides you, ensuring you do not stumble. It is a reward that even your physical body, which oppressed you, will be resurrected, and not a hair from your head will perish. It is a reward that after your resurrection, you will receive a crown. It is a reward that you will be able to glorify God forever without ceasing.
After the struggle, I shall receive a crown; and after the crown, what will I do? He who satisfies your desires with good things. Psalm 102:5. Seek the good for yourself, O soul. For one creature finds goodness in one way, another in another, and each creature has its own distinct good, contributing to the fullness and perfection of its existence. Each imperfect thing has its own essence that may be developed; thus, seek your own good. There is no good but One, that is, God. Matthew 19:17. The highest good is your good. What is lacking in Him, who is the highest good? There are lesser goods that are beneficial to different creatures. What, brethren, is good for cattle but to be fed, to avoid want, to rest, to enjoy life, to exist better, to reproduce? These are good for cattle; within certain limits, there is a measure of goodness given by God, the Creator of all. Do you wish to seek out such goodness? God grants it as well, but do not seek it as the only good. Can one, who is a fellow heir with Christ, rejoice among cattle? Lift your hope towards the source of all good things. He will be good to you, through whom you were made good by your design, and through whom all things were made good. For God saw all His creations and declared them very good.
THEOSIS