Psalm Reflection: The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle A
“The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.” - Psalms 145
What was the last thing you accomplished or were proud of? How did it make you feel?
We live in a culture obsessed with achievement and comparison. If we are not careful, we can set goals based more on “one-upping” our neighbor than on our actual desires and passions. Our pride can become inflated if we neglect to realize that all the good in our lives comes from God.
We cannot lay claim to any of our accomplishments, because it is God who gave us the gifts and the talents to get there. In fact, the only thing we can claim ownership of is our sin, because sin is the only thing in our lives that does not come from God.
The problem is that when we do good, we often praise ourselves and forget to praise God. When we sin, we can tend to blame others and make excuses, or even blame God for our problems, rather than claiming ownership of our sins and dealing with the consequences.
This does not mean we are worthless or incapable of good, but it is a reminder that any time good happens in our lives, it is from God.
It is God’s hand that feeds us.
It is God that answers all our needs.
If we think we can get through this life on our own, we are delusional and will inevitably find ourselves disappointed, frustrated, and angry. When we realize we cannot do everything on our own, real surrender can happen and the grace of God can truly abound in our lives.
My children never ask me if they are going to get fed every day. They might ask WHEN we will be eating, or WHAT we will be having, but they never doubt for a minute that we as their parents are going to provide for them.
The same is true for us as children of God, and yet we do not always believe it. When does that change for us as children of God? When do we lose trust in the fact that God is a loving father who will provide for our needs? It is perfectly reasonable to ask God WHEN He will answer, or WHAT that answer might be, but if there is no clear response it cannot lead to doubt that He will still answer and that whatever the answer is, it will be for our greatest possible good.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus gets irritated at his own disciples for holding children back from Him, and says: “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it” (Mark 10:15). My kids teach me so much about God every day, not because they say profoundly theological things (though sometimes they do), but because of the trust, joy, and love they unabashedly display toward me as their dad daily. They never doubt that I will be there, they run to me in their joys and their sorrows, and they constantly ask me or want to share with me about the simplest of things. I need to take their lead and turn around in the same manner toward my loving Father in Heaven, because I can place far more trust in Him than anyone can or should place in me.
This week, I encourage you to join me in approaching God as His child. Trust that He is with you at every single moment, standing by your side ready to provide, protect, intercede, encourage and embrace you. Go to Him in your joys and in your sorrows. Saint Mother Theresa, after receiving a new pair of shoes, brought them straight to adoration to share with the Lord. Bring to the Lord every question and share with Him every little moment, because He delights in them all as your Father in Heaven, beaming with pride at who you are, and desiring to do all He can to show you His love. Do not let your own pride or sin stand in the way of seeing all that the Lord desires to do in your life.
Do you ever find yourself setting goals to impress others rather than pursuing what God has placed on your heart?
When something good happens in your life, is your first instinct to take credit or to recognize God's hand in it?
Is there a sin or a failure in your life that you've been blaming on someone else rather than owning yourself?
When life gets hard or God feels silent, does your trust in Him waver. What does that reveal about how you see Him as your Father?
Do you approach God with the natural, unfiltered trust of a child, or do you come to Him guarded, doubtful, or only as a last resort?
When was the last time you brought God into a small, ordinary moment of your day, not just a crisis or a big decision?
Is there an area of your life where pride or unowned sin is quietly blocking you from receiving what God wants to give you?
I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.
Matt
This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, August 2nd, 2026, The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Psalms 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18.
