Psalms 118:19-29 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my Salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity [lit. wellbeing]. Blessed be He (Jesus) that cometh in the Name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the House of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us [resurrection - sunrise] light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. -- Holy Bible

Frederica Mathewes-Green explores the ways the 22nd/23rd Psalm reflects a year of shepherding a sheep.

Father Tom discusses Psalm 137, which is included in a special way during the Matins Service for the three Sundays leading up to Great Lent.

Fr. Tom takes a close look at the psalmody of the Church and its use in Orthodox worship.

Fr. John shares from Psalm 117:1-14. "When we depend on ourselves, we cannot succeed. When we put our hope in God, we cannot fail."

Fr. John continues his sermon from Psalm 117.

Fr. John concludes his homily on Psalm 117.

Fr. John shares from Psalm 118, a psalm that is chanted at every Orthodox funeral.

Fr. John continues his series from Psalm 118, "Wherewithal shall a young man correct his way? By keeping Thy words."

Fr. John continues his series from Psalm 118.

Fr. John shares from Psalm 19.

Fr. John uses Psalm 118, and the life of King David, to discuss the importance of living according to God's will.

Fr. John Whiteford delivers a timely message on the Resurrection, from Psalm 65.

What do these three have in common? Listen as Fr. John reflects on the power and beauty of the Psalter.

In the middle of Homily 54 of his Ascetical Homilies, St. Isaac gives specific advice on how to do this, how to take delight in psalmody. He begins by saying that one should disregard both the quantity of verses and the beauty or skill with which one recites them. According to St. Isaac, delight in psalmody has nothing to do with how beautiful the reading sounds nor with the amount of verses one recites.

We reflect back upon the Psalm “By the Waters of Babylon,” heard by many of us in the past three weeks, as a preparation for Great Lent. Its troublesome final verse is read with the help of other portions of Scripture, St. John Chrysostom, Cassiodorus and others, so that we can understand why the psalm retains a valuable place in our worship together.

We look to Psalm 62 (LXX)/ 63 (Hebrew text) as a model for practicing the presence of God, and are assured that He is always with us, encouraging us to seek His face.

We read this stunning sixth censing prayer of Matins, looking to help from wise Church fathers, and the clarification of multiple passages in the Bible: Psalm 142 (143 MT); Romans 4:8; Philippian 3:12; 2 Samuel/2 Kingdoms 15-18, Rev 20:11, and Luke 21:17-18. God’s mercy towards us is always surprising, and is impressed upon us as we begin the Lord’s Day.

Welcoming the Christ Child: Family Readings for the Nativity Lent, "David the Psalmist and King Solomon the Wise," by Elissa Bjeletich, illustrated by Jelena Jeftic (Sebastian Press, 2017).

Bobby Maddex interviews Benedict Sheehan, Xenia Sheehan, and the poet Sydney Lea about the new AFP book The Shield of Psalmic Prayer by the late Donald Sheehan.

This morning Psalm reminds us that without communion with God our souls are barren, untrodden, and unwatered.

Palm Sunday and Holy Week present opportunities for us to see Christ exalted, holy, and victorious!

Paschal images abound in this well loved Psalm prophesying the resurrection and ascension of our Lord.

Fr. Wilbur talks about the first 5 verses of one of the most beloved Psalms of the Church - Bless the Lord O My Soul!

During this Lenten season, Fr. Wilbur takes us through this penitential Psalm of David. Today's episode teaches on verses 1-6.

Fr. Wilbur continues his study of Psalm 50 (51) looking at verses 7-12 and the "deep cleansing" of our souls.

Continuing his study of this wonderful penitent psalm, Fr. Wilbur looks at verses 13-17.

Fr. Wilbur concludes his look at Psalm 50 (51) with the last 2 verses, in particular focusing on the meaning of "then they shall offer bullocks upon your altar."

Fr. Wilbur reflects on the many facets of God's goodness.

Another one of the morning Psalms asks the question, "How shall I walk?"

What does it mean to praise the Lord "Henceforth and Forever More?"

Fr. Wilbur introduces his new podcast by talking about the depth of the Psalms and how the Church views the Psalms in terms of the Historical, the Christological, and the Liturgical.

Fr. Wilbur takes a closer look at the Psalm we sing at every Vespers.

One of the best know Psalms for Orthodox Christians is Psalm 103 (104) which is chanted at each Vespers service. Fr. Wilbur explores the beauty and depth of this Psalm in today's podcast.

Fr. Wilbur takes us through Psalm 28(29) where the prophetic vision of the worship of the Trinity is made manifest.

Fr.Wilbur continues his series on the Psalms of Ascent looking to the hills "from whence comes my help."

The Psalm of Ascent associated with the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy during Great Lent is Psalm 121 (122 in the Hebrew) where we "go up" to the House of the Lord.

Continuing with the Psalms of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur looks at Psalm 122 (123 in the Hebrew) which shows how we are given strength for the journey.

In the next Ode of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur shows us that God delivers us in close calls and close calls are the foundation of maturing faith.

Continuing through the Psalms of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur reflects on Psalm 124 (125 in the Hebrew) where we take comfort in being surrounded by the love of God.

In this Psalm, we reflect on the middle of our journey when the newness has worn off and the destination seems so far away.

In his continuing series on the Psalms of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur looks at Psalm 126 (127 in the Hebrew) and the assurance that God is with us in the journey.

We are now moving beyond the mid-point of our journey in the 15 Psalms of Ascent. Psalm 127 (128 in the Hebrew) talks about the "fear of the Lord" which is described as pure and enduring forever.

Fr. Wilbur begins his exploration of the Psalms with the well known Psalm 1 - Blessed is the Man.

In the second episode, Fr. Wilbur takes us through Psalm 2 which begins "Why have the heathens raged?"

This morning Psalm includes the familiar refrain "Arise O God!"

Fr. Wilbur begins the last set of the Psalms of Ascent with another familiar Vespers Psalm - "Out of the depths, I have cried to You, O Lord."

In his continuing series on the Psalms of Ascent, Fr. Wilbur looks at Psalm 130 (131 in the Hebrew) and says that the higher we rise into union with God, the lower we go from centering on ourselves.

Fr. Wilbur continues looking at the morning Psalms with his reflection on this familiar Psalm from Orthros.

This Psalm reflects the prayer of Christ in the garden who was not afraid to die but was terrified of death.