Justin Appel

Dear Friends in Christ,

This morning's psalm incorporates several sections from Psalm 119. I would like to share a musical setting of the first section for your contemplation today.

The first is the Memor esto verbi tui segment, in a setting by Joaquin de Prez (c. 1450-1521) a composer from the Franco-Flemish region. Josquin’s setting of the text feels personal and interior, even from the first line, which incorporates gentle imitation to express the concept of “memory:”

“Remember your word to your servant,
Because you have given me hope.”

This opening, like many sections of the setting, involves a duet between two voices. Thus, we feel the intimate nature of the text, but also something of the struggle of prayer. This puts me in mind of various traditional ideas I have heard about prayer recently.

On the one hand prayer is an opening up of our selves so that Christ will come in a save us. This is an orientation we seek actively, involving our will, but also a receptivity, as Christ comes in and does His work in our hearts, ultimately for our salvation. This rather intimate opening up seems to have an element of trust and hope. We allow God into ourselves in order to be transformed.

At the same time, there is an element to prayer which reminds us of Jacob, who grabbed ahold of a man (God, it turns out) and wrestled with him until morning (Genesis 32). We ask God to remember his good word to us, and we cling to him, insisting on a blessing, saying, as Jacob did “I will not let you go until you bless me!”

In my own feeble attempts to pray, this rings true. I have no doubt that my salvation is of Christ, and that I cannot achieve it—or find it anywhere else. Salvation is God’s gift, an ultimate deliverance from death and sin. On the other hand, I need to be active. I need to stand before God and be present and open, but also I can and should insist on that salvation, as I am taught in this early prayer:

“And in me you will show all your goodness, for, though I am unworthy, you will save me according to your great mercy.” (from the Prayer of Manasseh)

Yours in Christ,

—Justin