Main Thought:
All day long we rely on God. The psalmist rises before dawn to pray to cry for help and meditates on God’s promises in the evening. The Lord is near to you at all times and all His words are true. Today we remember St. Jerome who translated the Scriptures into Latin so the common people could understand and meditate on God’s word.
Psalm 119:145–152 ק
With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!
I will keep your statutes.
I call to you; save me,
that I may observe your testimonies.
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in your words.
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
O Lord, according to your justice give me life.
They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
they are far from your law.
But you are near, O Lord,
and all your commandments are true.
Long have I known from your testimonies
that you have founded them forever.
Prayer
Lord our God, who has commanded us to pray, grant us that Spirit of prayer, who alone can teach us how to bring our petitions before You in acceptable manner. Cause Your Spirit to guide us that we seek not self-chosen works after our own thoughts, but continue in Your Word that we may found Your children indeed. Amen.
A prayer for the commemoration of St. Jerome
O Lord, God of truth, Your Word is a lamp to our feet and a light on our path. You gave Your servant Jerome delight in his study of Holy Scripture. May those who continue to read, mark, and inwardly digest Your Word find in it the food of salvation and the fountain of life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.