Reflections
"Near indeed is His salvation,
Glory dwelling in our land."
The Psalm is a prayer that
God will restore peace and
prosperity to the Israelites,
and by extension to us.
We are told that our salvation
is near, “The Lord proclaims
peace to his people, Glory
dwelling in our Land.”
The prophet Isaiah tells us in
Sunday’s first reading, our God
declares, “Give comfort to my people.”
And Zion is told, “Cry out at the top of
your voice.” (Isaiah 40: 1,6, 9)
For us Christians the Psalm is more
than a cry; it is a promise of salvation.
“Near indeed is salvation for those
who fear Him." St Peter too affirms
that the Lord does not delay in
keeping his promise. (2 Peter 3:9)
And what should we expect?
Nothing less than the coming
of the Messiah himself. Our psalmist
affirms, “Truth will spring from the earth.”
For us this happens when the Messiah
is incarnate.
The psalmist prepares the way
of the Lord, as does John the Baptist
in this week’s Gospel. As the psalm says,
“Justice shall walk before him and prepare
the way of His steps.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflections
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflections
1. The Psalm says, "Truth shall spring out of the earth." For us this verse foretells
the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. What else about the Psalm
prepares us for the birth of our Savior?
2. Our psalmist says, "I will hear what God proclaims." For us, this verse can be
seen as a reminder to study the Word of the Lord. Explain how your study of the
Word is strengthening your faith.
I agree with the Psalmist who points directly to the Word, as a way of strengthening one’s faith.
ReplyDeleteIt is similar to the principle of sowing and reaping — the more effort we put into the sowing, the more bountiful a harvest we will gather for our efforts.
We can look to other places in the Word for affirmation of this truth. For example, Mark 4:24 says, “And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the truth you hear) will be the measure (of virtue and knowledge) that comes back to you — and more (besides) will be given to you who hear.” (Amplified Bible)
There is a direct correlation between spending time in the Word and growing in faith. Scripture is the best manual for how to live life well. What better time than Advent to meditate, ponder, study, or practice the Word of God... with full expectation of His revelations. How exciting!