Catechism deep dive #2: Psalm 1 (Part 1)

Not sure where we are going, but we are making good time.

From my classroom Catechism:

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

I teach English Literature (ELA, ELAR, etc.) to Eighth grade scholars, usually about 87 of them each year. I wanted to have the Catechism for my classroom draw from the important literature we read each year where no line would be wasted: dense passages when recited day after day a scholar's attention would drift to different lines, so awareness would progress and change throughout the year.

Several years ago, I heard Andrew Kern speak about Psalm 1, and I knew that it would be perfect for my Eighth grade scholars to contemplate. Much of what I say here is inspired by what I heard at Andrew's talk (If I botch it, Andrew, please forgive me).

Blessed… what does that mean? We do not usually use this word— it is archaic. It has been usurped by words like ‘pleased’ or ‘happy’. Happy does not fit the sentiment here. Happiness is fleeting. It is easily replaced by any other emotion because that is what it is. It is an emotion. But 'blessed…' that is a state of being which has almost no bearing on the feelings of the person at the moment.

'Blessed' is a place of deep joy and contentment, the kind that comes from an alignment of understanding the place of self and self-worth in light of the teaching of Scripture, philosophy, and morality, and living in accordance with all of these in the scope of what it means to be human. One also would have a vision of the trajectory of a life that flows logically from all of these.

The image of walking points to someone moving along through life following some path or system. There are many voices calling to scholars that promise a quick elevation to happiness, riches, or pleasure. Eighth grade scholars have every intention of being thought of as one of The Wise, and of course, no one thinks they want to follow a path that does not lead to Wisdom, Truth, and Beauty, yet they (and we) can sometimes be such boneheads, and over the course of time, wander into the middle of a path that no one intended to take.

Scholars often listen to the folks that they are told are wise, or those they think should be wise (or maybe they just think that they, themselves, are already wise), and therefore, cannot see, or refuse to see the whole path. They realize, often too late, that the path they find themselves on leads to destruction.

The idea of the ungodly can take many forms. Sometimes one can see this at face value. It is the sentiment of most Eighth grade scholars that the evil doers are the ungodly, but also it can also be those that are hostile or even apathetic to legitimate authority. The ungodly try to divert these Eighth grade scholars from the correct route by offering a quick and easy path to temporary pleasure or satisfaction, that while fleeting, seems to feel right. This can be anything that will distract from the trajectory of The Way. Scholars should not listen to their call. Some of these calls are subtle, some are outright hostile: the former, quiet, manipulative, and full of lies; the latter, accusative and intimidating. The ungodly will carry a lie for eternity in order to mislead as many as possible, and they are willing to take as many scholars with them as they can

Standing in the path of sinners brings us a few images to mind. We are all sinners, even Eighth grade scholars. This is true, but that does not mean that we want to remain in that sin. By standing in the path, we are not progressing, we are stagnate. We should be learning and practicing Virtue as a way to fight against the impulses of sin. This is our Sanctification; it helps us to habituate the works of righteousness. It cannot save us, but it is our right response to Salvation! If we stand in the path--in the way that all the sinners are going--it is easy to get pushed along down the path in the flow of that momentum.