Morning Prayer and Pope Benedict XVI

Today's morning prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours reminded me, in great need, that God will take care of our vineyard. God will take care of us.

The first reading was Psalm 80, which in part reads:

O shepherd of Israel, hear us, 

you who lead Joseph's flock,

shine forth from your cherubim throne

upon Ephraim, Benjamin, Manasseh. 

O Lord, rouse up your might,

O Lord, come to our help.

...

You brought a vine out of Egypt;

to plant it you drove out the nations.

Before it you cleared the ground;

it took root and spread through the land.

...

God of hosts, turn again, we impolore,

look down from heaven and see.

Visit this vine and protect it,

the vine your right hand has planted.

Men have burnt it with fire and destroyed it.

May they perish at the frown of your face.

May your hand be on the man you have chosen,

the man you have given your strength.

And we shall never forsake you again:

give us life that we may call upon your name.

God of hosts, bring us back;

let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

The second reading was from Isaiah 12, which in part reads:

God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the Lord,

and he has been my savior.

The third reading was from Psalm 81 (Solemn renewal of the Covenant). In part, it reads:

Ring out your joy to God our strength,

shout in triumph to the God of Jacob. 

...

A voice I did not know said to me:

"I freed your shoulder from the burden;

your hands were freed from the load.

You called in distress and I saved you.

...

"O that my people would heed me,

that Israel would walk in my ways!

At once I would subdue their foes,

turn my hand against their enemies.

"The Lord's enemies would cringe at their feet

and their subjection would last for ever.

But Israel I would feed with finest wheat

and fill them with honey from the rock."

And the reading from 1 Kings:

We are your people, O Lord, and your inheritance. Thus may your eyes be open to the petition of your servant and to the petition of your people Israel. Hear us whenever we call upon you, because you have set us apart from all the peoples of the earth for your inheritance.

Finally, from the petitions:
Teach us to enter more deeply into the mystery of the Church, that it may be more effective for ourselves and for the world as the sacrament of salvation.

May our hearts thirst for Christ, the fountain of living water.

May God protect the vine of the Church, and put His hand on the man he has chosen to lead us, the faithful. May we heed the Lord, and listen to Him. May we be confident and unafraid in the coming days ahead and trust in the Lord. Amen.