Prayer In Old Age

"Be my rock of refuge; a stronghold, to give me safety; for YOU are my rock and my fortress.

Rescue me, O my GOD, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of cruel and violent people.

For YOU, O YAHWEH, have been my hope; my trust, O GOD, from my youth.

I have relied on YOU from birth: from my mother's womb YOU brought me forth.  My praise is of YOU continually.

I have become like a portent to many, but YOU are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with YOUR praise, announcing YOUR glory, day by day.

Do not cast me off in my old age, do not desert me when my strength fails.

For my enemies speak ill of me; awaiting my death, they set plans.

They say, 'GOD has forsaken him; let us pursue and seize him, for no one will rescue him.'

O GOD, be not far from me; my GOD, make haste to help me!

Let my accusers be destroyed in shame; let those who seek my ruin, be covered with disgrace and scorn.

Then, I may trust in YOU and praise YOU. 

My lips will proclaim YOUR intervention and tell of YOUR salvation all day, little though it is what I can understand.

I will come to YOUR strength, O YAHWEH, and announce YOUR justice, YOURS alone.

YOU have taught me from my youth and, until now, I proclaim YOUR marvels."

- Psalm 71:3-17

(An old man looks back on his life.  He was taught at his mother's knee to put his trust in GOD always.  He has not forgotten but has GOD forgotten him?  His enemies say 'yes'; he knows better.  And yet he is anxious.  Even a short life has its crisis and he has lived a long time, and GOD seems very far away.  Though the psalmist expresses himself in the conventional language, this does not conceal his very real distress.  We can imagine here the situation of Job himself.  One learns with age how powerfully the resilience of youth contributed even to religious optimism.  GOD, slowly and gently, teaches us to do without it.  This unconscious young confidence in ourselves having done its work is now removed.  If old age wishes it, GOD is closer than ever: the trust is purified.

Like the psalmist we too may have gone through the ups and downs of life and at times even feeling like Job.  But the faith of the psalmist never wavered.  He is confident that GOD will raise him up from the deepest depths.  If we also show faith like that of the psalmist, we will have nothing and nobody to fear.  And then, like St. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:20 and again in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we too will, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks to GOD at every moment.  This is the will of GOD, your vocation as Christians.")

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