Reflection from Psalm No. 71
NOW THAT I AM OLD AND GREY
Lord, you are my place of safety,
The home, where I always feel welcome!
You have been in my life
As far as my memory goes back.
I have learned your name from my mothers lips.
Now that I am old and grey,
Dont set me aside.
The years as they pass
plunder us of one thing after another. (Horace)
Thank you for being with me through my life.
Dont leave me when my strength is failing.
People view me now as a survivor,
Look, they say, Isnt he/she great for his/her years?
Now, give me grace to age well, To feel kindly till the end.
I have always told others
Of the great things you do;
Your constant daily care,
How I walked in your strength,
How you saved me from bitter trouble.
Now that I am looking down the arches of the years
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon (Shakespeare),
Give me time to talk to this new generation,
To tell stories to their children of
The countless, wonderful deeds,
Of your kindness and your love.
You will bring me up from the deep of the earth,
You will bring me back to life again,
Give me greater honour than before.
‘I will be your God through all your lifetime.
Yes, I will be with you even when your hair is white with age.
I made you and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and will be your Saviour.’ Isaiah 46:4
Glory be…
This reflection was composed by Fr Kevin Lyon, a priest of the Dublin Diocese, and flows from his praying the psalms. Published in the book: Psalm-Prayers for every mood, reproduced with permission from the author and publishers: Columba Press, www.columba.ie