Monday, December 28, 2015

Psalm for Sunday, January 3, 2016


Reflections


Psalm 72:  1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13  (Read)

“All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.”
















Our psalmist  speaks about a perfect king –
a king who judges like God, governs his people 
with justice, and his afflicted ones with right
judgment.  But where is such a king  to be found?  

Not likely among the kings of Israel.

The psalm speaks of a king that is to live as long 

as the sun endures, like the moon through all 
generations.  So there is a mystery about him –
“He rules from sea to sea, from the River to the 

ends of the earth.”

The verses of the psalm recall for us the Epiphany – 

“The Kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts; 
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.”
(See also this Sunday's Gospel, The Visit of the Magi,

Matthew 2:1-12)

The more we read the Psalm, the more it tells us 

about the Messiah to come – “May all kings bow 
before him, all nations serve him.” We see the light, 
just as the prophet Isaiah said we would.  (Isaiah 60: 1-3)

The mystery is revealed to us, poor in spirit though 

we are:  “He rescues the poor when they cry out, 
the afflicted 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, "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection


1.  Our psalmist describes a powerful king who will rule from sea to sea.  

Yet this king stoops to rescue the afflicted and has pity on the lowly and 
the poor.   In what way do these verses speak to you about our Lord and Savior?

2.  The psalm mentions that all the kings of the civilized world shall offer gifts 

to this newly endowed king.   Are you also inspired to bring tribute to our
newborn Savior, and what sort of gift will you offer? 

 

Monday, December 21, 2015

Psalm for Sunday, December 27, 2015


Reflections


Psalm 128:  1-2, 3, 4-5  (Read)

“Blessed are those who fear
the Lord and walk in His ways.”

Our psalmist tells us that a man who
has a right relationship with the Lord
will also obtain a right relationship 

with his wife and his family.  If we have 
a right relationship with the Lord, we will 
know how to treat our wives and our 
children, and in turn, we will discover 
how blessed we are in our home and 
by the presence of our family.  “Just 
so will the man be blessed who fears 
the Lord.”

And if a man walks with the Lord, this 

will be reflected in the way he loves his 
wife.  Because if a man cherishes his 
wife, as ‘flesh of his flesh’ and ‘bone of 
his bones,’ he nourishes his relationship 
with her, as Christ nourishes the Church.  
And the man’s reward is that his wife will 
be like a ‘fruitful vine’ within his house.  
This is how a man is blessed who fears 
the Lord.

Having been so favored by God,  we understand
why, 'A man shall leave his father and mother and 

cleave to his wife.'   God made them one flesh, and, 
'What God has joined, no human being may separate.'

If we fear the Lord and walk in His ways, we will receive

the blessings of our labor, prosper in a material way, and 
grow old gracefully in the company of our family.

Amen



Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm tells us how to gain God's favor so that our family life 

will be blessed.  What does it mean to you to fear the Lord and walk 
in His ways?

2.  We learn from our psalmist how to behave toward our wife and our 

children.  A right relationship with our family is obtained by having a right 
relationship with our Lord.  Explain how you are putting this teaching 
into practice.


Monday, December 14, 2015

Psalm for Sunday, December 20, 2015


Reflections

 
Psalm 80:  2-3, 15-16, 18-19  (Read)

“Lord, make us turn to you, and we shall be saved.”


 


The Psalm is a prayer to restore
Israel, and by extension to restore us,
as a scattered people of God.
The Psalm is well adapted to our
prayer during Advent.  We are a people
scattered and separated from God, and
we await His coming.  He alone can
'make us turn to Him' and convert us.
“Shepherd of Israel, lend an ear;
come to save us.”

Our psalmist makes a direct appeal
to God to shepherd us.   “Turn again
Lord, attend to this vine.”  Just as
the Lord tends to His vineyard, He
protects a shoot planted by His right
hand.  The coming of Christ is intended
to revive us, restore our strength.  
As the Psalm says, “Then we will not
withdraw from you; give us new life, and
we will call upon your name.”

Where does our hope for revival
come from?  It comes from our Savior,
our cornerstone, sent by the Lord.
In Him we are restored.   “Lord of
hosts restore us; let your face shine
upon us, that we may be saved.”

We all need to be renewed from
time to time when our faith grows
lukewarm, when our hearts harden
due to the sins that separate us from
God.   We, like the Israelites,  need
to beg for God’s mercy, to petition
the Lord and seek his peace, the peace
that will  guard our hearts and minds,
and restore us as his people.

Amen


 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm says, 'Lord, make us turn to you.'  Have you noticed 

at times when we stray off His path how the Lord tugs at each of us 
so that we return to His ways.  Give an example from your own experience.

2.  Our psalmist is writing about the scattered people of Israel, 

but his words may apply to each of us when we feel separated from God. 
In what way are you inspired by the Psalm's verses to repent and seek renewal?



Monday, December 7, 2015

Psalm for Sunday, December 13, 2015


Reflections


Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4, 5-6

“With joy you will draw water from 
the fountains of salvation.”

This is a Song of Thanksgiving, from the
prophet Isaiah, expressed in the language 

of the Psalms.  But the prophet is also 
speaking about salvation -- “God indeed 
is my salvation.”  Later Isaiah says,
“With joy you will draw water from the 
fountains of salvation.”

These verses speak to us of our Savior and 

are in keeping with the theme of this Sunday's 
first reading, “The Lord your God is a mighty 
savior.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)

And having been promised salvation, we are to

“Rejoice in the Lord always,” as St Paul tells us 
in Sunday's second Reading. (Philippians 4:4)

And what effect does the promise of salvation
have on us?  We draw strength from our saving

relationship with God – Isaiah says it for us,
“I am confident and unafraid.”  (Remember, God’s 

perfect love drives out fear.)  Isaiah gives us further 
evidence, “My strength and my courage is the Lord.”

And where does the power come from that is the 

source of our courage?   It comes from our baptism,
first with water, then from our baptism in the Holy 
Spirit.  This is the good news that John preached
when he promised that the Christ would baptize us 

with the Holy Spirit. (Gospel, Luke 3:16)

And as Isaiah reminds us, during this season of Advent 

we are to sing praise to the Lord -- “Let the good news 
be known throughout all the earth!”  We are to “Shout 
with exultation, for great in our midst, is the Holy One 
of Israel!”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Response this Sunday is, 'Cry out with joy and gladness:
for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.'   Describe how
you prepare to receive Jesus inside your heart during this season
of Advent.

2.  Isaiah says, 'My strength and my courage is the Lord.'   Explain
what this verse means to you, especially at this time of the year.