Our hearts thirst for God

This is the Responsorial Psalm for today from Psalm 42 and 43;

R. (see 42:3) Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
As the hind longs for the running waters,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Send forth your light and your fidelity;
they shall lead me on
And bring me to your holy mountain,
to your dwelling-place.
R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?
Then will I go in to the altar of God,
the God of my gladness and joy;
Then will I give you thanks upon the harp,
O God, my God!
R. Athirst is my soul for the living God.
When shall I go and behold the face of God?


We spend our whole lives looking for God, trying to get back home. My spiritual director tells it this way: before we were born, an angel kissed us, and ever since we have been trying to get back there. St. Augustine phrased it as "Our hearts are restless until they rest in you." Whatever the wording, it is true. Our hearts ache for that feeling of happiness and security and peace that only God can provide. We may try to fill our hearts with all the stuff of this world but we will only come up empty. We are sojourners here, people on a journey. With God's word as our compass, we trust that we will find our way.