Control
"Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." (Psalm 31:6a)
"Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." (Psalm 31:6a)
For many, today’s Responsorial Psalm likely calls to mind Jesus’ words on the cross, which is accurate, but I am personally reminded of the responsory during night prayer/compline. Near the end of this hour of Liturgy of the Hours, the following is said (though there are slight adjustments to this when it’s the Easter season):
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
–Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord God of truth.
–I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
–Into your hands Lord, I commend my spirit.
It’s in looking at today’s Responsorial Psalm or the responsory in night prayer that we can recognize Jesus is not the only one who ought to give God control. We too are called to allow God to have all of us– body, mind, and soul, and are called to strive to do His will.
If we truly trust the Lord, we believe and know the truth behind the rest of the psalm in today’s readings, that God is:
Our stronghold
Our rock and fortress
Our leader and guide
Our redeemer
Faithful
Merciful
Kind
Our shelter
Giving up control is often scary, but it is only ever good to let Him have it.
What is going on in my life that I am struggling to allow God to have control over?
Heavenly Father, thank you for your goodness and presence in my life. Please help me to always remember the goodness in giving control over to you. Amen.
Brittany DeHaan grew up in San Antonio, Texas and attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for college. She taught at a Catholic elementary school in Iowa for a year before moving to Florida in 2021. She taught at St. Paul Catholic School in St. Petersburg for two years before joining the pastoral center where she is currently the Communications Coordinator. She is passionate about her faith and loves to be involved in the diocese. She loves music, art, playing sports, and livestreaming GeoGuessr in her free time.
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