Monday, January 8, 2018

Psalm for Sunday, January 14, 2018

Reflections




“Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.”



















The Psalm is a prayer of gratitude
and of obedience to the Lord.
Our psalmist David answers God’s call
when he says, “Here I am.”
Young Samuel does the same
in our first reading.
Samuel waits expectantly
for the Lord to speak to him –
he is ‘all ears’
when he hears the Lord’s voice.
He grows up serving the Lord
and following God. (1 Samuel 3: 3-10,19)

Our psalmist says,
“He put a new song into my mouth.”
For us too it is no longer the same old tune
or the same old we.   We are in fact
a new creation, singing out the good news.

Where does our joyful spirit come from?
It comes from the Lord, and we are called
to share what He has given us and to do
His will, which is our delight.

In the Gospel reading (John 1:35-42),
Andrew recognizes Jesus as the anointed
and is drawn to Him.
Andrew and  his brother Simon
truly become members of Christ's body.
They are joined to the Lord
and have become one spirit with Him,
as St. Paul proclaims in our 2nd reading. 
(1 Corinthians 6:15,17)

We too are called to follow Christ
and to do His will.
Obedience isn’t an unpleasant chore for us;
instead as the Psalm tells us,
“To do your will is my delight.”

Amen

 

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  In this beautiful Psalm our psalmist speaks of waiting, waiting for the Lord.   

Tell what it means to you to have waited for the Lord, and what has been the result
of your presenting yourself to the Lord?

2.  Our psalmist is delighted to do God's will; he says to God, "Your law is within 

my heart!"   Have you also felt the Lord's pleasure when you obey Him and serve Him?  What does it mean to you to say God's law is within my heart?


   

1 comment:

  1. Our psalmist David speaks of waiting for the Lord. He is willing to do God's will whenever he is called, even though the waiting and obedience are not easy for him. God puts a new song in David's mouth, and God lifts him out of the pit and mire when David turns to God. God puts David's feet on secure rock.

    For my part, since God put His law within my heart, I have the desire to do His will and to obey Him and serve Him. I can not conceal God's love, righteousness, and truth in front of other people.

    As Andrew led his brother Simon to Jesus as a witness, I will speak of God’s faithfulness and salvation to those around me. I want to tell other people what God has done for me because His law is within my heart like our psalmist David.

    I am called to follow Christ and become a member of His body, and to do His will. He puts a new song in my mouth. I have become a new person.
    I have become one spirit with Jesus. I proclaim, “Jesus is my help and deliverer.” I have become His follower.

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