If Today You Hear God’s Voice,
Harden Not Your Hearts
“Hey! Now listen up!” At some point in each person’s life, these or similar words might have been used to grab someone’s attention. Psalm 95 was an enthronement psalm sung while the Israelites processed to the temple. The song leader called the community to enter God’s Presence singing songs of praise and thanksgiving. In this Sunday’s psalm verses, the psalmist invites the gathered faithful to be open to God’s voice. The composer invites the community to “harden not their hearts” and be open to help the cries of our brothers and sisters on earth. The community is called to worship, be compassionate, be attentive and obedient.
Come, sing with joy to God, shout to our savior, our rock.
Enter God’s presence with praise, enter with shouting and song.
Come, bow down and worship, kneel before our Maker.
This is our God, our shepherd, we are the flock led with care.
Listen today to God’s voice: “Harden no heart as at Meribah,
on that day in the desert at Massah.
There your people tried me, though they had seen my work.”
[verses adapted from The Psalter © 1995, Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications.]