Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Psalm for Sunday, November 27, 2016


Reflections

Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9  (Read)


“I rejoiced when they said to me,
'Let us go up to the house of the Lord.”















This Sunday we revisit this Psalm that sings of a 
spiritual journey to the house of the Lord, the holy 
city of Jerusalem.  In Sunday’s first reading the 
prophet Isaiah also speaks about a journey to Zion, 
to the house of God, and to God’s holy mountain.
(Isaiah 2: 2-3)   We too are called to make that 
same journey, that we may walk in His paths. 
Our psalmist says, “Our feet are standing within 
your gates, Jerusalem.”

But why are we called to make that journey?
Firstly, we stand with the Israelites who already
dream of gathering together at some future time.
But secondly, for us as Christians, the psalm is a
vision of the end times, when our spiritual
pilgrimage leads us from earth to heaven.

Our psalmist says we are called to give thanks
to the name of the Lord, but we note also there
are set up judgment seats at our destination.
For our journey ends where God resides, His
kingdom of heaven, and we must be prepared
to be in His presence.

St Paul, in Sunday’s second reading,
cautions us to throw off the works of darkness,
and to put on the armor of light, to conduct
ourselves properly as in the day, to put on the
Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 13: 12-14)
Jesus himself says in this  Sunday's Gospel ,
“You must be prepared, for at an hour you do 
 not expect, the Son of Man will come.”
(Matthew 24:44)

Jerusalem in the Psalm symbolizes for us the
end of our journey, being present with the Lord.
This is what God has planned for His people --
When we arrive in God's holy city, the kingdom
of God will come to us in its fullness, and we will
live in peace. As the psalmist tells us, we will be
filled with a desire to say, "Peace be with you.”
I will pray for your good.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection
 
1.  As we begin a new season of Advent, the Psalm 
encourages us to be prepared 
for the time when we  will be in God's kingdom and He will be present to us.   Speak about what you are doing to prepare yourself  to be in God's holy city.

2.  As we prepare to receive the Prince of Peace within 
our midst, our psalmist asks 
us to pray for peace within  the walls of the holy city and within ourselves.  What are  you doing to ensure that you have peace within you and  how are you conveying your 
peace to others around you?


Monday, November 14, 2016

Psalm for Sunday, November 20, 2016

Reflections

Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5  (Read)




“We will go up to the house of the Lord.”



The Psalm is about a pilgrimage to the holy

city of Jerusalem. “Let us go to the house

of the Lord.” And for us it may also be about

a spiritual journey that we must embark

upon if we are to enter the Lord’s kingdom

and be present to the King of Kings.



For us the way is clear – we have only to

follow God’s beloved son, our Savior.

For just as God chose David to be the

shepherd for his chosen people (2 Samuel 5:2),

so God chose his son Jesus to lead us to

redemption. And as St Paul says, the Father 
saw to it that we would be transferred to the 
kingdom of his beloved Son. (Colossians 1:13,14)



The gate is narrow, but as the psalmist says,

“And now our feet are standing within your

gates, Jerusalem.” Now we too have a share

in Christ’s inheritance.



And what draws us to make the journey

through the narrow gate? We seek to be with

the Lord, just as did St Dismas, the thief who

was crucified with Jesus on Calvary.

Sunday’s Gospel quotes St Dismas

when he says, “Jesus, remember me when you

come into your kingdom.”

The Lord replies, “Today you will be with me

in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)



This is our goal, too – to complete that pilgrimage

the psalmist speaks about, to reach that

holy city where are the “thrones of justice, the

thrones of the house of David.”



Jerusalem in the Psalm symbolizes for us

the end of our journey, being present with the Lord.

This is what God has planned for his people.



Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection
 

1.  Our Psalm speaks of a journey to the Lord's kingdom.   What progress are you 

making along the way on your own  journey to the Lord's holy city?

2.  The psalmist mentions that he has set foot within the gates of Jerusalem.  

Describe your decision to walk the walk and go through the narrow gate that leads 
to redemption and a share in our Lord's inheritance.