THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
No greater blessing can be bestowed by God upon humanity than the gift of His Word, through which He formed all creation, with Christ as its Head, intertwining them with Himself as members of His body. This union enables the Son of God to also assume the role of the Son of Man, remaining one with the Father and one with mankind. Thus, when we approach God in prayer for His mercy, we do well to remember that we are united with the Son, and furthermore, as the Body of Christ prays, He remains joined to His Head. Our only Savior is our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who intercedes on our behalf, prays within us, and prays as our Priest. We should acknowledge His words in us and our own words in Him. Therefore, whenever we speak of our Lord Jesus Christ—particularly when humility is implied in prophecy—we should not refrain from attributing it to Him who embraced our condition. We pray to Him, who, in His divine nature serves as our High Priest, prays as a servant; the Creator above and the created below, joining Himself with humanity to create one new man, constituted by Head and Body. So we pray to Him, through Him, and in Him; we converse with Him as He converses with us. While we speak in Him, He expresses through us the prayers contained in this psalm, aptly referred to as ‘The Prayer of David.’ For although according to the flesh our Lord is the descendant of David, in His divine essence, He is the Lord of David and its Creator. Thus, let no one, upon hearing these words, assume that 'Christ does not speak,' nor should anyone assert, 'I do not speak.' Should one recognize their existence in the body of Christ, they should affirm both: Christ speaks and I speak. None should desire to act apart from Him, nor should He act apart from them.
Incline Your ear to me, Lord; hear my plea. He embodies the servant’s form; we too must speak as servants, saying, 'Incline Your ear, O Lord.' He bends low to hear if you do not cast aside the burden you bear; for He draws near to the humble, distancing Himself from the proud, except for those He Himself has raised from their lowliness. Only then does God incline His ear toward us. He is above us; we are below Him. Though we exist in a humble state, we remain not abandoned. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. Rarely does a man die for the righteous; some might dare to die for a good man; but our Lord laid down His life for the ungodly. There was no merit that warranted the death of the Son of God—rather, it was His boundless mercy that compelled Him. The promise is both true and secure: for the righteous, He preserves life; for the wicked, He offers death. Though I may be poor and in need, He does not turn His ear toward the wealthy, but towards the humble, the contrite, those who confess and seek mercy, rather than those who are puffed up and self-satisfied like the Pharisee who boasted about his virtues while the penitent publican acknowledged his sinfulness.
However, let not my words be misconstrued to imply that God disregards the prayers of those with riches or status; rather, they should remember the counsel of the Apostle to instruct the rich not to be arrogant. The ungodly are impoverished before God, while the downtrodden, the needy, and the humble receive His attention. These know that their hope lies not in material wealth, which may seem abundant for a fleeting moment. It suffices that their riches do not ruin them, but good they cannot provide. Truly, what matters is the work of charity performed by anyone, rich or poor: the rich with both will and deed, the poor with will alone. He who despises worldly exaltation aligns with the poor in spirit, for he recognizes that his heart is contrite. Was it due to the merit of his poverty that the poor man was carried away by angels, or was it for the sin of his riches that the wealthy man faced torment? This poor individual embodies the honor of humility, while the rich one signifies the fate of pride. I can briefly demonstrate that it was neither riches but pride that led to torment for the affluent man. The poor man found mercy in Abraham's bosom; yet Scripture indicates that Abraham himself was wealthy, possessing much gold and silver in the land. If every rich individual were destined for torment, how could Abraham have welcomed that poor man when he arrived? Abraham was rich yet humble, obedient to God's commands, valuing worldly riches as nothing, evidenced by his willingness to sacrifice his son upon God’s command. Thus, learn to uphold spiritual poverty in your heart, regardless of your worldly possessions.
"Preserve my soul, for I am holy." It is doubtful that anyone could truly claim, “I am holy,” except He who walked sinlessly in this world. He who came to forgive, not to retain, spoke this phrasing, that perhaps through the form of a servant, it was His voice declaring: “Save my soul, for I am holy.” He existed in both flesh and soul, embodying the oneness of the Son of God, the single Christ, the unified Savior—equal to the Father in divine form, yet humbly serving as the Head of the Church. Thus, as I hear, “I am holy,” I discern His voice, yet I cannot exclude my own. When He proclaims this, He speaks inseparably with His body. Should I claim for myself, “I am holy”? If I claim holiness of my own, signifying no need for sanctification, I would be prideful and false; but if I align with the holiness derived from being sanctified, as Scripture instructs, “Be holy, for I am holy,” then the Body of Christ may confidently affirm this statement under the Head. He has bestowed upon us the gift of holiness, through Baptism and the forgiveness of sins. “Speak to your God: I am holy, for you have sanctified me—not due to my own merit, but solely because of Your grace.” To deny this truth would be to diminish the essence of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. If all faithful Christians, washed through Him, have ‘put on’ Him, as the Apostle teaches, they are indeed called members of His Body. Thus, if they deny their holiness, they diminish the significance of their union with the Head who is holy. Awareness of this is crucial, for one must acknowledge their position in God’s grace, where they transition from darkness to light in the Lord. You once dwelled in darkness, but this does not define you now, for the light has indeed come. You must realize this and take hold of the dignity that comes from your Head. Although trials may surround the Body of Christ, amidst various temptations and offenses, the voice persists: “Save my soul, for I am holy;” my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
"Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I have cried out to You all day long." This declares a continual plea—an ongoing lament from the Body of Christ throughout its trials until the culmination of time, when sorrows cease. Each of us, in varying measures, contributes to this cry of the entire Body. We have all mourned through our days; though one departs, another comes to weep, echoing this cycle. Each member of the Body of Christ participates, sharing the burden of sorrow while simultaneously fulfilling the promise of companionship in trials. The entirety of Christ's body resounds with the sentiment, “To You I have cried all day long.” His Head, seated at the right hand of the Father, intercedes for us, catering to each member’s varied needs—some are healed, others chastened or restored.
"Revive the soul of Your servant, for it is to You, O Lord, I have lifted up my soul." Rejoice over it, for it was burdened by earthly troubles, and hence I have lifted it to You. For true joy can only be found in You; the world is laden with bitterness. This is why the faithful are encouraged to elevate their hearts, lifting them to seek what is above, where decay cannot touch. If you were to store grain in a low place, you would elevate it to avoid ruin—why then would you allow your heart to dwell in the mire of the earthly? Your affections serve as the ascent; your will provides the path. In loving, you rise; in negligence, you falter. Positioned like a body on the ground yet with a heart full of love, you shall find joy.
"For You, O Lord, are good and merciful." Even prayers can often be thwarted by distracting thoughts, leaving the heart disjointed and flying astray rather than resting in focused prayer offered to God. Such distraction can render even the most sincere prayer barren. Few may find this kind of concentrated supplication amidst the din of many clamoring thoughts. David himself prayed, "When I sought Your face, O Lord, I found my heart," as though it routinely ran away, leading him to bemoan its absence. As I reflect upon this, I perceive that God’s mercy is His gracious forbearance, allowing us room to grow, whilst awaiting our earnest prayers. When we genuinely offer our most heartfelt cries, He receives them willingly, dismissing the trivial prayers we spill forth thoughtlessly.
Thus, consider the kindness of God, who patiently endures our wandering hearts. If every man were to dedicate their every moment without distraction to God’s praise, none would endure such treatment. Yet even amid our distractions, God waits to hear our hearts. Therefore, with faith in His abundant mercy, let us say, "To You, O Lord, I have lifted my soul." How did I manage such a feat? From weakness I falter; I plead for You to heal and strengthen me. Until then, bear with me, for You, O Lord, are good and abundant in mercy. Such kindness is truly immense, for as our sins multiply, so does Your mercy extend to those who call upon You. While Scripture bears witness that some will cry yet not be heard, we find that You remain gracious to all who sincerely seek You.
"Consider, brethren, the great blessings God bestows even upon sinners, and thereby understand what He preserves for His faithful." He grants His bountiful gifts, even to those who blaspheme Him: the heavens, the earth, fruitful yield, health, children, wealth, and abundance—these gifts are unique to God alone. If He blesses the wicked so, what must He have in store for those who faithfully serve Him? Surely, if He provides even earthly abundance to the unjust, His provision for His faithful must be far greater, preserving not just the earthly but also heavenly treasures that dwell with Him. The heavens are magnificent, yet far more splendid is their Creator. Though we may witness the beauty of creation, our hearts remain clouded if we cannot behold the beauty of the Creator Himself. He descended from heaven to earth to purify our vision and open our hearts so that we might see Him, our true salvation.
"Have mercy on me, O Lord; I pour out my prayer before You." The earnest supplication of the faithful implores God to hear their plea. The psalmist’s words express a desperate heart yearning for divine presence, a reminder that in our affliction, we must continually seek His grace.
"In the day of my distress, I cried out to You, for You have heard me." All day long, amidst affliction and turmoil, the prayer of the faithful rises to God. No Christian ought to assert that there exists a day free from distress, for the troubles we face are inextricably linked to our transient existence on this earth. This mortal pilgrimage may at times bring pain—even in physical health, we feel the yearning for our true home. It is in our heavenly abode, where joy abides eternally, that what burdens us now will cease. For here, our hearts do not find the restful joy they seek; rather, we await the day when trials will yield to praises of gladness.
"Among the gods, there is none like You, O Lord." The psalm sings of God's unmatched greatness amidst those who worship false idols. While others may delve into crafts and create figurines of silver and gold, we do not bow before their likenesses. Rather, recognizing that idols are capsulated symbols devoid of life, we worship the living God who transcends all creation. Unlike the false gods of the nations—who flee from their worshippers like mere shadows—we, as Christians, exalt the one true God, who is ineffable and incomparable.