Since I primarily use the Divine Office during the seasons of Advent and Lent, and since Advent doesn't always have a full fourth week, I don't pray today's Psalm very often. I love the series of "isolated avian" references - pelican, owl, sparrow - though without knowing for myself how accurately they reflect each species' natural behavior. The last half of the second section speaks to why I believe that God has preserved me in spite of how utterly I've failed Him and those I love. The first part of the last section resonates with me right now because of the advancement of my kidney disease; I need to be careful not to let my mind get out ahead of that, though.
Today's Isaiah reading is more familiar (because the Office always uses this in the final octave of the Advent season, regardless of where it falls in the week), and every time I see the Lord refer to his stubborn people I must plead guilty.
This reading from St. Bernard gets me every time. (Rabbit hole warning: this link contains three others; one of them, though, contains the entire text of this reading, since the dated hyperlinks expire - or at least they used to; I haven't checked in a while.) The thing that strikes me about this reading this year is a shift in perspective: as anxious as the souls of all humanity throughout all of history are, collectively, for our Mother's answer to the angel, so much greater is God's desire for each one of us to provide our own fiat in response to Him.
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