Monday, March 7, 2016

Psalm for Sunday, March 13, 2016

Reflections

Psalm 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6  (Read)


“When the Lord brought back the captives
of Zion, we were like men dreaming.” 

 












 
What God did for the Israelites, he does
also for us. The Jews were liberated from
being captives of the wicked Babylonians,
and we are liberated from the captivity of sin
by that same God who sent his Son to save us.
Just as the woman in the Gospel this Sunday
is saved from being stoned to death, Jesus
redeems all of us from our wicked ways.

God takes pleasure in restoring us, as the
psalmist says, and his pleasure is reflected
by the joy in our hearts when we are reconciled
with Him. “Our mouths [are] filled with laughter;
our tongues [sing] with joy.”

It may seem like we are dreaming when we 
make our own Exodus from our past lives of 
disobedience.  The future may be filled with 
a few dry stream beds, but if we are diligent 
and sow the seeds of repentance, we will be 
rewarded with a bountiful harvest and as the 
psalmist says, “We will reap with cries of joy.”

We join with our psalmist who affirms,
“The Lord has done great things for us.”
There is good news for us too --
we have the Messiah to lead us in our own
spiritual Exodus, away from slavery to sin,
and put us under the gentle yoke of Christ
our Savior.

This is a message of hope; it is a calling that
is future oriented. Isaiah, in Sunday's first 
reading, says the Lord is doing something 
new. (Isaiah 43:19)  St Paul, in the second 
reading, says that faith will lead us to an
“upward calling” in Christ. (Philippians 3:14)

For a better future we must do our part --
we must sow the seeds in order to gain 
repentance.  “Those who sow in tears shall 
reap rejoicing.”  Jesus did not condemn the 
woman caught in adultery – she is given a 
chance to repent and to pass from death 
to life. (John 8:10-11)  In the same way
a seed dies and produces a harvest – 
“Those who go forth weeping, carrying 
sacks of seed, will return with cries of joy, 
carrying their bundled sheaves.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist speaks of the the Jewish captives being set free and
brought back from Babylon.  Tell of your own liberation this Lenten season 
from being captive to sin.

2.  The psalm contains a message of hope for us all -- that we shall reap 
joyfully in the days ahead.  Share how you expect to be raised up with the 
Lord as we approach our Easter celebration.


4 comments:

  1. Rudy H4:49 PM

    The Lord hath done great things for us - We see it; we feel it; we acknowledge it. A surrounding world may see it in our conversion, in us being turned from sin, in the influence of religion upon us, in our comfort, calmness, and peace, that "The Lord has done great things" for us.

    The Lord hath done great things for us — And we should thankfully acknowledge it, and praise The Lord for He has not only restored our liberty, but manifested the greatness of his power. Therefore we are justly filled with joy and triumph.


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  2. As the Jews were liberated from being captives of the wicked Babylonians, I wish to be liberated from the captivity of sin. How? God's ability to restore my life is beyond my understanding. But Jesus redeems all of us from our wicked ways, as he rescued the adulterous woman in the Gospel from being stoned to death. He never condemned her.

    The Lord has done great things for me, and He brings good out of my sins. That's why He fills my mouth with joy and laughter. I will do good deeds and charitable works with love for my neighbors. I will pray more, asking his forgiveness of my sins. Furthermore, I will approach Easter joyfully with a thanksgiving heart.

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  3. "The Lord is good to me." "God is good all of the time." Many catch-phrases in our culture speak of the goodness of the Lord. I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I reflect on how the Father has compassionately helped me time and again. Or sent an angel to pave a path before me that looked humanly impossible.

    The Lord cleared a path for the Israelites when He parted the Red Sea, as we are reminded of in the first reading. He parts Red Seas for us everyday if we look for the miracles in our daily lives.

    Sometimes, the path to dry land is only visible after a rough patch, a storm, or a needed cleansing with the help of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

    I am feeling well-cared for this Lent because the Lord assures me that I am restored. As In v. 3, "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." I do not need to dwell on past mistakes but rather focus on present graces. (I must make note that not even future graces should be imagined.) God gives us what we need for each day.

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  4. I think we should all be concerned with our upcoming choices for President, and Commander-in -Chief. It’s playing out in front of us, and all we can do is wait until it’s our turn to vote. We need to get down on our knees and pray that the best possible candidate is elected. May God Bless America!

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