September 29

The Tale Of The Years

For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh. — Ps 90:9 BSB

This psalm, attributed to Moses, “the man of God,” is unparalleled in its grandeur. It reflects the trials and transience of the wilderness journey: the night watch against Bedouin thieves or prowling wild beasts, the sudden rush of a flood caused by torrential rains that quickly disappear into the sand, the morning grass scorched by the desert wind, the quickly silenced tales of the camp spies, the bitterness of Marah, the loss of Elim, and the long, weary days of marching. It speaks of the mother and babe, the elderly and the little children, and the weak struggling along the desert trail. The constant pitching and dismantling of tents—all these are emblems of the impermanence and toil of life.

The psalm also reflects the consequences of sin, the death of the old at eighty, and the passing of the young like frail flowers. Yet, despite all this, God remains the dwelling place for the soul, across all generations.

Let us make the concluding prayers of this psalm our own. Like pilgrims on a desert journey, we are traveling toward our eternal Home. We must be careful with our days, watching their dwindling number and striving to make the most of the time we have left. Each morning, we need to be replenished by God’s mercy so that we may have a wellspring of joy throughout the day. As we grow older, we pray that the beauty of the Lord will rest upon us and that He will give permanence to the work of our hands.

Prayer

How can we thank You enough, dear Lord, that You have conquered death and brought life and immortality to light. Give us the grace to follow You all the days of our lives, and when our time comes to pass over, may the waters of the river be at their lowest ebb. Amen.