The Modern Psalmist

This weekend we are celebrating the beginning of a new liturgical year, cycle A, with the First Sunday of Advent.   O come, Emmanuel. The entrance antiphon helps us prepare our hearts to worship the Lord at the beginning of mass.  Taken from Psalm chapter 25 verses 1 through 3, we sing: "To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let my e...

This weekend we celebrate the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, which marks the final solemnity of the liturgical year C, and the final Sunday of the Catholic church's 3-year liturgical cycle.   The Psalm for today is attributed to King David from chapter 122: "Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord." In our communion antiphon from Psalm chapter 29 verses 10 and 11,...

This weekend we celebrate the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C, and the next-to-last Sunday of this liturgical cycle.  The theme of Christ coming as the final King of the Universe continues through today and next Sunday as we culminate the end of the liturgical year with the feast of Christ the King. Today's psalm foretells the Lord's coming and encourages us to praise the coming King of...

This weekend we celebrate the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C.  As we wind down the liturgical year, we are approaching the last Sunday solemnity in just a few weeks: that of Christ the King.  The psalms in these final Sundays also proclaim his coming, like we have for today with Psalm 17: "Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full." The communion antiphon for today is from...

We're approaching the end of the church calendar year C as we celebrate the 31st Sunday of Ordinary time this weekend.  In just a few weeks is the feast of Christ the King year C, and then the cycle returns to Year A again with the 1st Sunday of Advent on November 27th. Taken from chapter 145, the psalm response is: "I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God." The words in the vers...

This weekend we celebrate the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C.  Much like last Sunday, today's readings remind us that the Lord is merciful to those who cry out to him with humble hearts. The Psalm for today really sums up all the readings in the response itself.  Taken from chapter 34, the response is "The Lord hears the cry of the poor." As often occurs, the communion antiphon for...

This weekend we celebrate the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, year C.  Our readings today encourage us to hope in the Lord and pray without ceasing, looking to Him to protect and preserve us. In the psalm for today, from chapter 121, we proclaim that the Lord - the master of all creation - is who we look to for help in times of trouble. The response reads: "Our help is from the Lord, who made h...

This weekend we celebrate the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.  The readings for today focus on the Lord healing his people and blessing those who seek him.  There is also emphasis placed on the importance of thanking the Lord for his blessings. The Psalm, taken from chapter 98, is itself a song of thanksgiving and praise: "The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power." The...

This weekend we celebrate the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C.  The readings for today encourage us to continually hope in the Lord be attentive to God's voice, so we can serve him faithfully and do his will. The psalm for today, taken from chapter 95, reminds us to continually listen for God's voice, and to be open and surrendered to his commands: "If today you hear his voice, harden n...

This weekend we celebrate the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.  The readings for today emphasize the Lord's disdain for those who are smug and complacent in their wealth while also showing His compassion and mercy toward the poor. The psalm for today is from chapter 146: "Praise the Lord, my soul!" A reminder of God's desire to comfort and lift up the poor is found in the communion antip...

This weekend we celebrate the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.   Many of the readings today contrast the rich and the poor, denoting that the Lord defends those who are poor and brings justice upon the rich who try to take advantage of the poor.   The Psalm for today, taken from chapter 113, proclaims the Lord's dedication to those in need: "Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor." T...

This weekend we celebrate the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, and the beloved parable of the prodigal son.  This is certainly one of my favorite parables, and all the readings for today proclaim God's mercy toward humanity. The psalm for this weekend is taken from chapter 51, the most famous of the seven Penitential Psalms.  The response, however, is from today's gospel in Luke cha...

This weekend we celebrate the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.  The psalm for this weekend is taken from chapter 90: "In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge." The Communion Antiphon is from Psalm chapter 42, verses 2 and 3: "Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God; my soul is thirsting for God, the living God." Featured Songs: "Psalm...

This weekend we're celebrating the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C.  There is a theme of being humble followers of Christ that ties the readings together, encouraging us to have faith that God will take care of those who revere Him. The Psalm for today is taken from chapter 68.  The response is: Psalm 68 God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor. Communion Antiphon:...

This weekend we're celebrating the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.   The Psalm for today is number 117, which is the shortest psalm in the entire book of psalms.  Actually, the response itself isn't even taken from Psalm 117 but instead is from Mark chapter 15 verse 16:  Psalm 117 Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. Communion Antiphon: The earth is replete with the...

This weekend we're celebrating the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, cycle C.  Several of the readings for this solemnity encourage us to turn to the Lord when we face difficult times, because the Lord is merciful in answering our call.  Psalm 40: Lord, come to my aid! Communion Antiphon: With the Lord there is mercy; in him is plentiful redemption. (Psalm 130:7) Featured Songs: "Psalm 40: L...

This weekend we're celebrating the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.  The readings for today focus on God's chosen people, and the privilege of being called to serve him.   Psalm 33: "Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own." Communion Antiphon: O Jerusalem, glorify the Lord, who gives you your fill of finest wheat. (Psalm 147:12, 14) Featured Songs: "Psalm 33: Blessed t...

This weekend we're celebrating the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.  The Psalm for today from chapter 90 is one that many liturgical musicians confuse with the more popular version from chapter 95 with the same response. Psalm 90: "If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." Communion Antiphon: You have given us, O Lord, bread from heaven, endowed with all delights and sweetnes...

Today we celebrate the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Psalm 138: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. Communion Antiphon Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all his benefits.  (Psalm 103:2) Featured Songs: Psalm 138: You Answered Me (Rebecca De La Torre) https://themodernpsalmist.com/songs/psalm-138-you-answered-me-17th-ot-c/ Communion Antiphon: Psalm Psalm 103:...

Today we celebrate the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Psalm 15: He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Communion Antiphon The Lord, the gracious, the merciful, has made a memorial of his wonders; he gives food to those who fear him. (Psalm 111:4-5) Featured Songs: Psalm 15: The Presence of the Lord (Rebecca De La Torre) https://themodernpsalmist.com/songs/psalm-15-the-pr...

This Sunday we celebrate the 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year C.  As we journey through the scriptures from the lectionary, we go from seeking God's face in the entrance antiphon, to proclaiming that the Lord is our light and salvation in the psalm.  And in the gospel acclamation and communion antiphon, both taken from Matthew's account of the transfiguration of Christ, God speaks to us directly...

Today we celebrate the 1st Sunday of Lent, Year C.  The antiphons and responses for today are paired very nicely, with the responsorial psalm and entrance antiphon both coming from Psalm 91, and the Communion Antiphon and gospel acclamation both from Matthew 4:4. Entrance Antiphon "When he calls on me, I will answer him; I will deliver him and give him glory, I will grant him length of days."...

Today, the Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday, and it is also the beginning of our Lenten series of this podcast. This series will cover today every Sunday through Lent up to Divine Mercy Sunday on April 24th, the 2nd Sunday of Easter.  Entrance Antiphon "You are merciful to all, O Lord, and despise nothing that you have made. You overlook people’s sins, to bring them to repentance, and...

Show Notes This weekend we celebrate the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, cycle B.  I love that the theme for today is centered around being true disciples of Christ in our lives, and not just following a set of rules. The Psalm for today, from chapter 15, says: "The one who does justice will live in the presence of the LORD." As we continue to explore the theme of living justly in the presence...

This weekend we celebrate the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time, cycle B.   The Psalm for today, taken from chapter 34, states: "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord." The Gospel Acclamation for today is taken from the gospel of John chapter 6, verses 63 and 68: "Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; you have the words of everlasting life." The Communion Antiphon for today, taken from Psalm cha...