We are not just animals, nor merely rational animals: we are sons and daughters of God. In prayer, we learn to see the world through God’s perspective. We are connected to Christ as the branch to the vine, and we strive to make our minds and lives grow more like his.
The virtuous will flourish like palm trees (v. 13), embodying the enthusiasm of those whose lives are built on faithfulness. He has witnessed the fall of many fortunes and much glory. The martyr St. Polycarp told his judges, ‘How could I curse Christ? For eighty years, He has always been good to me.’ The saints are those who leave the most lasting impact on human history. ‘Give thanks to the Lord’ (v. 2). If we reflect on our lives, we will find many reasons to thank God. The gift of our very life and existence is a good starting point. St. Paul encourages us to ‘give thanks to God at every moment’ (1 Thes 5:18) in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord (Eph 5:20).