Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 41 with Caesarius of Arles – Confession as the Key to Healing

Have mercy on me, LORD; heal me, for I have sinned against you (v. 4). God will heal you if you only admit your wound. You lie under the physician’s hands. Patiently request his

aid. If he bathes, or burns, or cuts it, bear it calmly. Do not even pay any attention to the pain, provided you are cured. You will be cured if you present yourself to the doctor. Not that he does not see you if you hide, but confession is the very

Caesarius of Arles on Psalm 41 “Confession is the very beginning of restoration to health.”

beginning of restoration to health. “Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers” (Ps 141:5). What does this mean? It would be better for me if the righteous person who sees my sin would correct me, not spare me, tell me that I have done wrong, be furious over my sin, in order to free me from it. They may seem to speak harshly, but within they are full of kindness, according to the words: “Let a righteous man strike me— that is a kindness.” When the righteous person therefore strongly rebukes, it shows kindness, for it all arises from parental pity and not hostile cruelty. Since they do not want you to die in sin, they love you all the more when they perform surgery. They are unwilling to allow your other body parts to decay from the rottenness of sin. They draw a blade, but do not be afraid or dread it. The knife is not applied against you, but against your wound.