psalm 103: what should we thank god for? 2nd week advent wednesday

Today we reflect on psalm 103.  This psalm calls us to bless the Lord.  To bless the Lord means to thank the Lord.  Now what should we thank God for?  The psalm says bless the Lord, or thank the Lord, forget not all his benefits - remember the good things God has done, don't forget what God has done.

What has God done for you so that you will bless him, so that you will thank him.   The psalm says, God pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills; he crowns you with kindness and compassion.  These are some of the reasons why we should thank God – God's faithful love.

In our life there are so many manifestations of this faithful love of God – the food that we eat is a manifestation of God's faithful love for us.  That is why our parent use to tell us, indi pag-usiki ang grasya, meaning do not waste food because food has always been the manifestation of God's love for us.  I remember when we quarrel at the table my parents would say - indi kamo mainaway sa atubangan sang grasya, ukon indi kamo magdinalok sa atubangan sang grasya.

Food is always seen as sacred because it is the first and concrete manifestation of God's faithful love for us.  And so, let us bless the Lord, let us not forget all his benefits.