Psalm for Sunday, July 31, 2016

Reflections

Psalm 90: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17  (Read)

"Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain wisdom of heart."

The Psalm reminds us that man’s

days are numbered, and that we 

should use our time wisely, making 

our days and our life count 

for something.

And how do we do that?

We do it by being open to the

wisdom of God. Just as Solomon

preferred the gift of wisdom over

material wealth, and concluded

that so much of what we do in the

world is vanity, we too see the

advantage of using our time wisely

by doing the Lord's will.

Although we may never receive

the wisdom of Solomon, we can hope

for some ability to be detached from

worldly things, which can separate

us from God.

How do we do this? Where does

the ability come from, to cut through

all our present day concerns?

It is obtained by listening to St Paul,

who tells us to put to death the parts

of us that are earthly, take off the old

self and put on the new self.

(Colossians 3:5,10)

And Jesus tells us in the Gospel that

we need to store up treasure in heaven

and be rich in what matters to God.

(Luke 12:21)

If we can get that right, we may receive

the favor of the Lord and be counted

among his sheep. As the Psalm says,

“May the favor of the Lord our God

be ours.”

How much better will our lives be

if we may sing for joy, as the psalmist

says, and be filled at daybreak with the 

love of the Lord.  And having received 

God’s favor, we will want to be His 

servants and do His work. We will 

become laborers in the field where the

harvest is plentiful. And as the

Psalm says, “The work of our hands

will prosper.”

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Psalm Response this Sunday is, "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts."  How would you apply these words to the Psalm's message about using our time wisely?

2.  The Psalm ends with a petition that the Lord will "prosper the work of our hands!"  

How do we be sure that our work will gain the favor of the Lord? 

Psalm for Sunday, July 24, 2016

Reflections

Psalm 138: 1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8  (Read)

“I will give thanks to you,

O Lord, with all my heart.”

Our psalmist David composed

this prayer with a grateful heart.

David is grateful because his

petitions are answered by the Lord.

“For you have heard the words

of my mouth.” The Lord's answers

to our psalmist's prayers have come

at a critical time, a time when David

is seeking to build up his strength.

David speaks of a divine rescue --

“When I cried out, you answered;

you strengthened my spirit.”

Perhaps we’re all in need of a spiritual

rescue of the type David describes.

And it isn’t because of any of the

psalmist’s virtues that he obtains 
salvation.   It is a result of God’s 
loving fidelity.  “Lord, your love is 
eternal.”

Our Savior Jesus conveys a similar

teaching in this Sunday's Gospel,

“Ask and you will receive; seek and

you will find; knock and the door

will be opened to you. For everyone

who asks, receives; and the one

who seeks, finds.” (Luke 11:9-10)

Our God does not forsake the work

of His hands, though who has given

the Lord anything that he may be repaid?

Our psalmist reminds us—all God

has to do is stretch out his right hand,

and we will be saved. “You stretch out

your hand, your right hand saves me.”

Unworthy as we are, and though the

Lord is exalted, He watches over us in

our lowly state. And thanks be to God,

His kindness endures forever.

Amen

 Discussion Questions for Reflection
 
1.  Our psalmist affirms that God answers our needs, "Lord, on the day I called for help,
you answered me."   Give an example of how your prayers have been answered at a 
critical time in your life.

 2.  The Psalm reminds us that although the Lord is exalted, He sees the lowly.   
What is it that gives you confidence that the Lord will not forsake you, even though 
He is exalted and you are among the lowly ones.

Psalm for Sunday, July 17, 2016

Reflections

Psalm15: 2-3, 3-4, 5  (Read)

This Psalm of David begins with a familiar 

question,  “Who may dwell on your holy 

mountain?”

Fortunately for us, David gives us answers 

that serve as a lesson in how today's Christians 

are to behave if we are to dwell in God's Kingdom.

David says, “He who does justice will live in the

presence of the Lord.”  For us this can mean

whoever has a right relationship with the Lord

will inherit God's Kingdom. Whoever loves God

with all his heart and loves his neighbor as 

himself is not far from the Kingdom of heaven, 

as Jesus affirms to the scribe in Mark 12:34.

Jesus was born to bring us the Kingdom and 

to personify the Kingdom of God to us humans. 

If we follow what our psalmist prescribes, we will 

find that we are able to live now in the Kingdom 

of God, here on earth.

David describes what separates us from God 

and His Kingdom. Our separation is caused by

the sinful things that we do and the harmful habits

that we acquire willfully. This separation can only

be healed by repenting and turning to our Savior, 

Jesus Christ.

As our Lord said, the Kingdom of God is at hand 

and can for us become a present reality, inside 

of us and within our community. Just as David did,

we hunger for God's presence; we long for His 

Kingdom. Fortunately for us, through the Eucharist 

we are able to receive Jesus physically and spiritually 

and to live in His Body as He lives in ours.

And having Jesus inside us and living within Him,

we are able to make the Kingdom present to our

family and our community. Our God intended for us

to have a share in His own divinity. All we have to do

is accept God's Son into our hearts and follow His

teachings. Then you and I will be not far from the 

Kingdom. We will have Jesus in our midst, and 

we will be able to dwell on God's holy mountain.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist David asks us, "Who may dwell on God's holy mountain?"  

Recalling the verses of the Psalm, speak of what you are doing to draw 

closer to God.

2.  The Psalm says that one who thinks the truth in his heart will live in the 

presence of the Lord.  Describe how you are making sure you have a pure 

heart so as to gain favor with God.

 

Psalm for Sunday, July 10, 2016

Reflections

Psalm 19: 8, 9, 10, 11 (Read)

“Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.”

God’s statutes refresh the soul;

they give ‘wisdom to the simple;’

they ‘rejoice the heart;' they are 

more ‘desirable than gold,

sweeter also than honey.’

“The law of the Lord is perfect,

refreshing the soul.”  The Psalm

speaks to us of the joy that is

stirred up in our hearts when we

follow the Lord’s commands.

Our Savior Jesus Christ came to fulfill

the law and make us right with the Lord.

If we are to imitate the divine life,

everything we need to know is found

in God’s Law. Obeying the Law brings

much reward.

We are kept from willful sins by the Law.

Obey the Law and we will be able to walk

as God fearing people.   As our psalmist

explains, the Law of the Lord is in fact a

source of joy, something to be desired,

because the Law gives us wisdom and

provides us with something we can trust.

It is through the inspired Word of God that

we know His commandments and through

this Psalm that we know His Law is a source

of refreshment, a source of joy.   His statutes

do not bind us, they set us free.

The reading of the Law should not

make us sad, but be a source of rejoicing.

Give us ears to hear!

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Psalm response this Sunday is, "Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life."   
Tell of how God's commandments are for you uplifting and nourishing.

2.  Our psalmist says that God's ordinances are for him 'sweeter than honey.' 

Explain what this verse means to you.