Catechesis Notes for the Week — Psalm 121: A Prayer for the Preservation of Your Faith—The Songs of Ascent were prayed by the Old Testament faithful as the priest entered the Holy Place to intercede for the congregation. Psalm 121 is a prayer for the individual believer and for the whole congregation. The God of salvation is He who made the heavens and the earth. Our God is not only the God of salvation, but also the God who is the Creator and Preserver of all things. So, the psalm begins, “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” “Help” is a reference to salvation and the preservation of our faith. It is as if the psalmist were praying, “My salvation comes from the Lord…the Preservation of my faith comes from the Lord…My protection from all enemies who seek to destroy me comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” Our prayers, like Psalm 121, are always based upon the foundation of the sure and certain promises of the Lord. He will not allow us to stumble. He never slumbers or sleeps. He is the one who keeps or shelters us from harm. He is the one who preserves us from evil. He protects us as we go in and out from the Divine Service where He refreshes our faith and comforts us with His forgiveness and mercy. He who keeps the individual Christian and preserves him in the faith is also He who keeps and preserves the Church: “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” All of this is so, “from this time forth, and even forevermore.” Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. CP210822