Catechesis Notes for the Week — Psalm 147: The Beauty of Singing Praise to the Lord—Praise of the Lord is beautiful because true praise confesses the goodness of the Lord in all His acts under the three articles of the Creed which are understood to be performed for the benefit of His Church. Under the Third Article work of the Holy Spirit, the Lord builds up Jerusalem (the Church) and gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds with forgiveness and mercy. He calls to faith by His Word and blesses the children of the Church with peace and the finest wheat in the Sacrament of the Altar. Under the First Article work of the Father, the Lord covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass to grow, gives food to all His creatures, and gives snow, hail, and cold to replenish the earth. All of the Lord’s blessing are made possible by the redeeming work of Christ under the Second Article of the Creed. Our praise flows forth in a confession of faith in God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Lord “does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.”

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