psalm 100: the connection between mind and heart. 34th week thursday

Today we continue to reflect on our responsorial psalm, psalm 100.  If you notice the stanzas alternate from invitation to praise and exult God, then to the reason why we praise and exult God. Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; serve the LORD with gladness.  Why?  Because the LORD is God; he made us, his we are.  Then it starts again, Enter his gates, Give thanks to him; bless his name.  Why?  Because he is good: his kindness endures forever.

Knowing God must lead us to exalting God. Knowing the truth about God should lead us to love God.  Learning must lead us to doing.  Education becomes a failure if it does not lead us to love, to care and to make a difference in our world.

And the other way around is also true.  Exulting God that does not flow from knowing why, will not last.   Loving God without discovering and learning the truth about God, will not last.  Emotions will die out. Doing without discovering the reason and the purpose will not last.

Our psalm is telling us the important connection between the mind and the heart, the connection between knowledge and passion – both are needed, one flows from the other.