Reflections
Psalm 147: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
The Psalm says that the Lord “rebuilds Jerusalem”
and “heals the brokenhearted, binds up our wounds.”
There is comfort in these words for all of us.
The Psalm points to the healing power of Jesus,
our Lord and Savior,
which is displayed in this week’s Gospel.
We too can be rebuilt from the inside out
by the promise of salvation.
It is surely by the grace of God
that we are made well.
It is God's grace
that drives the demons out of us;
there is no room in our hearts
for both the holy Spirit and the demons.
We get his grace from the sacrament of reconciliation.
We are empowered by the sacraments
to bear good fruit.
“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power.”
There is even hope for Job in his drudgery
that we read about in our 1st reading.
Like Job we may be poor in spirit,
but it is at our moment of greatest weakness
that the Lord will call us by name –
“He numbers all the stars , calls each of them by name.”
Having put our trust in the Lord, he will sustain us,
“The Lord sustains the lowly.”
Once we realize that the Lord takes pleasure
in the lowly (for we are his sheep),
then as St. Paul says in our 2nd reading,
we can not help but praise God,
preach the Gospel ,and boast in our faith.
The Psalmist says it well –
“How good to celebrate our God in song;
how sweet to give fitting praise.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm response this Sunday is, 'Praise the Lord,
who heals the brokenhearted.' Explain how the verses
of the Psalm give you hope that the Lord will 'bind up your wounds.'
2. Our psalmist says that the Lord 'calls each of the stars by name.'
Does this verse give you comfort that our Creator also knows your name
and seeks you out despite the infinite size of the universe?
What does this verse mean to you?
1. Our Psalm response this Sunday is, 'Praise the Lord,
who heals the brokenhearted.' Explain how the verses
of the Psalm give you hope that the Lord will 'bind up your wounds.'
2. Our psalmist says that the Lord 'calls each of the stars by name.'
Does this verse give you comfort that our Creator also knows your name
and seeks you out despite the infinite size of the universe?
What does this verse mean to you?
God knows how we may feel "small" after our sins and our mistakes in life. He also wants us to know that no matter what, we can find forgiveness through him.
ReplyDelete1. I have experienced his Mercy. These days I feel as if I don't quite understand myself --- what I want and what I hope for. What's wrong with me ? What should I do about it ? I feel troubled ---- frankly speaking I have a broken relationship with my brother. No matter how often I tried to mend my relationship with him, it turned sour which made me so helpless. I reached my limit. But God has no limit. In this Psalm we have the Lord who "heals the brokenhearted and will bind up our wounds." Through this broken and painful relationship God is telling me, "Take your mind off it, and fix your eyes on me. Instead praise me." I keep praising him. Praise the Lord! He reminds me of my sinful behaviors (selfishness and arrogance) toward him. I forget God loves a cheerful giver. I tried to get credit for what I have done for my brother for all these years. I finally realized that it's God will to bless him through me. And so I can forgive his ungrateful and unloving attitude toward me. All of sudden I felt as if my heavy burdens which weighed me down on my shoulder were lifted. I learned the lesson ---- if I choose His way, I can strive to be more and more like him.
ReplyDelete2. The Lord desires my genuine worship and trust and delights when I put my hope in his unfailing love. "The Lord calls each of the stars by name," means to me His salvation is known through Jacob (Israel) to other nations. Praise the Lord ! His salvation comes to us.