Psalm for Sunday, September 7, 2014

Reflections

Psalm 95:  1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (Read)
 
 
"Oh that today you would hear His voice."
 

 










Knowing God's will is hard enough; 
discernment is a gift from God.  
But even if we are gifted enough
to be able to discern God 's will, 
do we have the courage and conviction 
to actually carry out His will? 

In our first reading Ezekiel is enjoined
by the Lord to warn the wicked among
the house of Israel and try to turn them
from their wicked ways (Ez 33:7-9).
In the Gospel, too, Jesus instructs the disciples
how to deal with a brother who sins against
a disciple (Mt 18:15-20).

Doing the will of God must have been difficult 
for the prophet Ezekiel; how much more so 
is the will of God a challenge for ordinary 
persons like us?  Even the disciples must have
been in awe of what Jesus was commanding
them to do.

Our spiritual history is full of occasions
where the faithful were known to have
hardened their hearts and refused to listen
to God's voice, though they had seen
His works, as our psalmist mentions.

But He is our God, as the psalm says,
and we are the people He shepherds.
Our job is to kneel before the Lord who
made us and to carry out His will the best
we can.   And if we are careful to listen to His voice,
He will empower us to do His will, just as
Jesus empowered the disciples to rise up
to the challenge of the great commission and
to become ordinary men performing extraordinary
deeds.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist encourages us not to harden our hearts if we hear God's voice.  
Do you find it difficult sometimes to carry out God's will in your life even if you
believe He is speaking to you?   Give an example.

2.  The psalm reminds us that we are like sheep and the Lord is our shepherd.  
Are you willing to be just an ordinary sheep among His flock?  If so, what does it
mean to you to be shepherded by the Lord?