Reflections
Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13
This Psalm is a prayer for our newborn King.
Our psalmist speaks of a Messiah
who will be like the “rain coming down upon the fields,
like showers watering the earth.”
Our psalmist prays that our newborn King
will be anointed by God with divine judgment
and empowered to rule the earth.
Isaiah in our 1st reading predicts that the light of the Lord
will cause our hearts to overflow
and the riches of the sea to be emptied out before us.
Our psalmist also speaks of “abundance”
that will flourish in the king's days.
But the Messiah is among us
to do more than bless us materially;
the savior has come to make our burdens easy,
to share our afflictions.
We see the light,
just as the prophet Isaiah said we would.
In the Psalm, the mystery is revealed to us,
poor in spirit though we are:
“He rescues the poor when they cry out [as we do],
the oppressed who have no one to help.”
This is what our Good Shepherd Jesus is sent to do,
to shepherd God’s people.
This is why we join the Magi in paying homage
to our newborn King and join with our psalmist in singing,
"Blessed be the Lord; Blessed be his glorious name."
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm says, 'Lord, every nation on earth will
adore you.' Using the verses of the Psalm, explain why
'all kings' would want to pay homage to our Lord.
2. Our psalmist mentions 'afflicted ones' and 'the afflicted'
in two of the Psalm's verses. Are there times when you can
identify yourself as an 'afflicted' one? Tell what remedies
are available to you that are mentioned in the Psalm.
1. Explain why 'all kings' would want to pay homage to our Lord, using the
ReplyDeleteverses of the Psalm.
Our new born King, the Messiah, will be anointed by God with divine
judgement and empowered to rule the earth. The light, Jesus Christ, our Savior, is
sent to be a good shepherd and to shepherd God's people.
He rescues the poor when they pray from the bottom of their heart, and the
oppressed who have no one to turn to. And He has come to make our burden
easy, to share our afflictions, and bless us spiritually.
That's why we join the Magi in paying homage, "Blessed be the Lord."
And "every nation on earth will adore the Lord" --
now it has been revealed that the Gentiles are coheirs of the promise.
2. Are there times when you can identify yourself as an 'afflicted one ?
Tell what remedies are available to you that are mentioned in the Psalm ?
Yes, I'm suffering from an anxiety and ringing in the ears. In addition,
I am losing hearing in both ears. The remedy available to me
is to hold on to these promises in Psalm 72, "Justice shall flower in his days
and profound peace," and he shall have pity on the lowly and poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save. "And he shall rescue the poor when they
cry out, and the afflicted when they have no one to help them."
These verses describe well about God's character (Goodness and Mercy)
toward the afflicted one. I'll cry out and pray about my problems
since I know He is merciful and trustworthy.
In His own time, He'll heal me and make me whole.