Monday, April 2, 2018

Psalm for Sunday, April 8, 2018

Reflections




“By the Lord has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.”

Once again we visit this powerful 
psalm of praise and thanksgiving. 
This time the verses stress the 
enduring love that God has for us –
so much so that despite the part 
we played in crucifying his Son, 
God went ahead and carried out 
His plan to save us.  Jesus’ risen 
presence among us is living proof 
of God’s enduring love.
“God’s love endures forever.”

We may be 'hard pressed and 
falling,'  but the Lord comes to 
our help. As the psalmist says, 
the Lord is our strength.  He is 
present to those of us who are
in need of healing,  just as He 
was in those early days of the 
church described by St Luke in 
this Sunday's first reading (Acts 4:33), 
and in Sunday's Gospel  (John 20:19-23)

We may not have the awesome 
experience that St Thomas had when 
he physically put  his hand into the 
Lord’s side and his fingers into the 
nail marks on Jesus' hand, 
but our Savior is with us.  

“The Lord has become my savior.”
We are victorious over death.
The Lord’s deliverance is cause 
for joy.  Just when we were down, 
the Lord raises us up.
“I was hard pressed and falling,
but the Lord came to my help.”

“The joyful shout of victory is heard.”
We are on firm ground after all – 
Christ has become our cornerstone, 
as our psalmist reminds us.
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:
“By the Lord has this been done; 
it is wonderful in our eyes.”
This is cause for rejoicing --
“This is the day the Lord has made.”
Along with the disciples and the early 
church, “Let us be glad and rejoice in it.”


Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection 

1.  Our psalmist praises the Lord because the stone that was rejected has 

become our cornerstone.  Why do you think God would permit his Son to 
undergo a shameful death in order to make Jesus the cornerstone of our faith?

2.  Our psalm begins by stressing over and over that the mercy of God endures 

forever, and this Sunday's Response also says, 'His love is everlasting.'  Describe how these verses strengthen your faith and inspire you to trust in the Lord.



1 comment:

  1. "By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes."
    Do you know why? Our Lord has transformed the stone rejected by the builders and turned it into the cornerstone of our salvation. As our psalmist reminds us, He has become our Savior.

    His risen presence among us is living proof of God’s enduring love. He is the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow, for his love endures of human beings, sinners like us. Jesus died and is victorious over death.
    That’s why it is marvelous in our eyes. We too will be raised up because of his shameful death and sacrificial love for us.

    The Lord’s deliverance is cause for me to have shouts of joy and to have confidence in his eternal and steadfast love because God’s love endures forever. His love inspires me to have faith in Jesus. And also God gives me the strength to bear all hardships. If He is with me I will not be afraid. He is my helper and my strength.

    God has made his light shine upon me. I trust Him, and I will give Him thanks for all He has done for me. He has become a source of strength.
    He is good. He has become my Salvation.

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