Psalm 33
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the just!
Sing to the Lord a new song, play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts [sing beautifully to Him with joy, LXX].
By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the Spirit of His mouth.
Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have set our hope on Thee.
(Psalm 33:1,3,6,22)
This is a hymn in praise of God the Creator. Theologically, the Fathers of the Church understood creation as the collaborative work of Father, Son (the Divine Word, or Logos) and Holy Spirit. The Fathers were convinced on the basis of the revelation in Holy Scripture that God in Himself is a communion of divine Persons who are distinct, have a hierarchical order and yet act perfectly together in love to bring creation into existence, to sustain it and then redeem it when human beings misused their God-given and creative freedom. They also understood that statements about the Holy Trinity must be careful never to reduce the mystery of God or creation to a simple formula.
God’s creative work spills over into human creativity. All human creativity has its source in our creation “in the image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:27). Wherever there is a spark of inspired creativity, there is the presence of the Creator. Hence it is striking that we don’t just sing psalms that are three-thousand years old, we can compose “a new song.”
Appropriately for Christmas, the “new song” is not just about music, but about God himself entering His creation as a human being. Cassiodorus (c 485-c 585) interpreted the “new song” as the new revelation of Christ Himself:
The “new song” means the Lord’s incarnation, at which the world was filled with the exultation of salvation and the angels sounded forth with tuneful voices, praising and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will among men.” *
* * *
Verses from Psalm (1, 3, 6, 22) are frequently heard throughout the year as communion hymns, prokeimena and alleluia verses.
*Commentary on Psalm 32 [33], in Johanna Manley, Grace for Grace: the Psalter and the Holy Fathers (1992), p. 108.
Recruiting 300 Stewards for the Orthodox Church in America
This Monday of Thanksgiving Week is the first day of a three-week campaign to enlist 300 Stewards for the Orthodox Church in America. We’ll end on St Herman’s Day, December 13th.
This is an experiment that has been in preparation for some time, and we’ve quietly been recruiting since last February.
Metropolitan Tikhon joined.
The bishops of the Holy Synod joined.
The men and women of the Metropolitan Council joined.
The Chancery officers and staff joined.
And now we’re asking you to join.
Not everyone will want to or be able to. Some will have mixed feelings. There are lots of other vital parish, diocesan, inter-Orthodox, charitable and humanitarian causes that need your support.
But if you believe that the Orthodox Church in America is much more than just a collection of parishes and dioceses.
If you believe that we share a common vision of what the Orthodox Church can be to serve the people of North America.
If you believe that the mission and ministries of the OCA can make a difference in people’s lives.
Then I hope you will consider taking the step to add your name to the band of Stewards who feel the same way.