On this final Sunday of Ordinary Time, the psalms pull on the strings of my heart. Psalm 16 brings Ordinary Time, also known as ordered time, to a close: You are my inheritance, O Lord.

When we read the psalm chapter in its entirety, we hear the full force of the psalmist’s message. The psalmist is singing a song of trust and security in Yahweh. The psalmist sees that

“those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their libations of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.”

The psalmist refuses to give into pagan worship. He sees Yahweh as his only security in the night. Night is imagery of walking among the pagans. Yahweh is his immovable foundation, cup, and heritage.

Yahweh leads those who honor him into the fullness of his presence. He leads us out of the valley of darkness onto the path of life.

In Jesus, our inheritance is overrun, gratuitous, and undeserved. God will fight our battles with us. As we plunge into the final Sunday of the liturgical year, let us recommit to Christ who is King.