Monday, April 10, 2017

Psalm for Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017

Reflections

Psalm 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23  (Read)


“The right hand of the Lord 
has struck with power.” 

The Psalm celebrates a great 
victory over death. The victory 
is won by the Lord’s 'right hand,' 
a clear advance notice of the 
power of the Son of God.

“I shall not die, but live, and 
declare the works of the Lord.” 
These could have been Jesus' 
own words, speaking about His 
resurrection and His food, which 
is to do the work of the Father.

Our risen Savior has defeated 
death and the power that sin has 
over us.  And we live on in His 
kingdom.  Having become yoked 
to Jesus, we willingly praise God 
and follow His direction in our lives.

We may ask, “Having been saved, what are we
obliged to do? What is our commission?”
In today's first reading, St Luke tells us what we  
are commissioned to do – we are to preach to 
the people and testify that Jesus is the one 
anointed by God. (Acts 10:42) 

We are an Easter people; Christ has become our
cornerstone.  As the psalmist says, “The stone the
builders rejected has become the corner stone.”
The mystery is that Christ has become a source of
strength for us, despite His apparent weakness that
day on the cross, when He died a shameful death.
Only the Lord could have done this remarkable
thing – “This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad.”

Amen 


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist affirms, "I shall declare the works of the Lord."  Tell what this verse 
means to you.  How are you going about doing the work of the Lord?

2.  The Psalm declares, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the 

cornerstone."  Speak about how our Savior is like a rock in your life and how you 
build your life around Jesus.

 

3 comments:

  1. "He has risen. Praise the Lord.” We’ve joined a new Bible Study Group here in Temecula……it’s part of the "timeline series”……very interesting. Happy Easter to all.

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  2. The psalm says, “I shall not die, but live." The psalmist seems to be acknowledging that a great victory over death is won by the power of the Son of God. It gives us security. The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid. He is my helper; the Lord is my strength; He has become my salvation and become the cornerstone which the builders rejected. He has become a source of strength for me, even though He died on the cross.

    Jesus brings us Salvation through His sufferings and forgives our sins and wrongdoings. Yes, His mercy and His love endure forever for the sake of human beings. That’s why I want to rejoice and be glad for all these remarkable things He has done for me.

    To tell the truth though, there are times I did not feel like rejoicing because my faith was weakened, and I could simply not pray. But He is so patient, waiting for me to come around, and helping me stand on my own two feet. And so I have come to know His love is unchanging. I go forth trusting and believing that He is my Savior, like a rock
    no matter what.

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  3. J Kim5:01 PM

    The Lord's kingdom is full of reversals. The last shall be first and the first shall be last. The greatest leader is one who knows how to serve the least of these. And this week, verse 22 of the Psalm shows us that "the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." The building block (Jesus) that was overlooked and tossed aside as worthless, becomes the very foundation of the Church upon which all other rocks are built.

    Some translations use the word "capstone" referring to the center stone in the top of an arch, holding the whole arch together. We see that no building or arch can be formed without the binding power of Jesus.

    Therefore, in daily life as well, I cannot begin my day without checking in with Him. I need His healing, strength, wisdom, discernment, and love to hold me together and to get me through any and everyday.

    I praise God that He is unchanging and steady in our fickle world. And He shares His endless power with me when I but ask with an obedient heart.

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