Reflections
Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 (Read)
“All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him.”
Our psalmist speaks about a perfect king –
a king who judges like God, governs his people
with justice, and his afflicted ones with right
judgment. But where is such a king to be found?
Not likely among the kings of Israel.
The psalm speaks of a king that is to live as long
as the sun endures, like the moon through all
generations. So there is a mystery about him –
“He rules from sea to sea, from the River to the
ends of the earth.”
The verses of the psalm recall for us the Epiphany –
“The Kings of Tarshish and the Isles shall offer gifts;
the kings of Arabia and Seba shall bring tribute.”
(See also this Sunday's Gospel, The Visit of the Magi,
Matthew 2:1-12)
The more we read the Psalm, the more it tells us
about the Messiah to come – “May all kings bow
before him, all nations serve him.” We see the light,
just as the prophet Isaiah said we would. (Isaiah 60: 1-3)
The mystery is revealed to us, poor in spirit though
we are: “He rescues the poor when they cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to help.” This is what
our Good Shepherd, Jesus, is sent to do, to shepherd
God’s people. This is why we join the magi in paying
homage to our newborn King and join with our psalmist
in singing, "Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist describes a powerful king who will rule from sea to sea.
Yet this king stoops to rescue the afflicted and has pity on the lowly and
the poor. In what way do these verses speak to you about our Lord and Savior?
2. The psalm mentions that all the kings of the civilized world shall offer gifts
to this newly endowed king. Are you also inspired to bring tribute to our
newborn Savior, and what sort of gift will you offer?
Reflections
Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5 (Read)
“Blessed are those who fear
the Lord and walk in His ways.”
Our psalmist tells us that a man
who has a right relationship with
the Lord will also obtain a right
relationship with his wife and his
family. If we have a right
relationship with the Lord,
we will know how to treat our
wives and our children, and
in turn, we will discover how
blessed we are in our home and
by the presence of our family.
“Just so will the man be
blessed who fears the Lord.”
And if a man walks with the Lord, this
will be reflected in the way he loves his
wife. Because if a man cherishes his
wife, as ‘flesh of his flesh’ and ‘bone of
his bones,’ he nourishes his relationship
with her, as Christ nourishes the Church.
And the man’s reward is that his wife will
be like a ‘fruitful vine’ within his house.
This is how a man is blessed who fears
the Lord.
Having been so favored by God, we understand
why, 'A man shall leave his father and mother and
cleave to his wife.' God made them one flesh, and,
'What God has joined, no human being may separate.'
If we fear the Lord and walk in His ways, we will receive
the blessings of our labor, prosper in a material way, and
grow old gracefully in the company of our family.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm tells us how to gain God's favor so that our family life
will be blessed. What does it mean to you to fear the Lord and walk
in His ways?
2. We learn from our psalmist how to behave toward our wife and our
children. A right relationship with our family is obtained by having a right
relationship with our Lord. Explain how you are putting this teaching
into practice.
Reflections
Psalm 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (Read)
“Lord, make us turn to you, and we shall be saved.”
The Psalm is a prayer to restore
Israel, and by extension to restore us,
as a scattered people of God.
The Psalm is well adapted to our
prayer during Advent. We are a people
scattered and separated from God, and
we await His coming. He alone can
'make us turn to Him' and convert us.
“Shepherd of Israel, lend an ear;
come to save us.”
Our psalmist makes a direct appeal
to God to shepherd us. “Turn again
Lord, attend to this vine.” Just as
the Lord tends to His vineyard, He
protects a shoot planted by His right
hand. The coming of Christ is intended
to revive us, restore our strength.
As the Psalm says, “Then we will not
withdraw from you; give us new life, and
we will call upon your name.”
Where does our hope for revival
come from? It comes from our Savior,
our cornerstone, sent by the Lord.
In Him we are restored. “Lord of
hosts restore us; let your face shine
upon us, that we may be saved.”
We all need to be renewed from
time to time when our faith grows
lukewarm, when our hearts harden
due to the sins that separate us from
God. We, like the Israelites, need
to beg for God’s mercy, to petition
the Lord and seek his peace, the peace
that will guard our hearts and minds,
and restore us as his people.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm says, 'Lord, make us turn to you.' Have you noticed
at times when we stray off His path how the Lord tugs at each of us
so that we return to His ways. Give an example from your own experience.
2. Our psalmist is writing about the scattered people of Israel,
but his words may apply to each of us when we feel separated from God.
In what way are you inspired by the Psalm's verses to repent and seek renewal?
Reflections
Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4, 5-6 (Read)
“With joy you will draw water from
the fountains of salvation.”
This is a Song of Thanksgiving, from the
prophet Isaiah, expressed in the language
of the Psalms. But the prophet is also
speaking about salvation -- “God indeed
is my salvation.” Later Isaiah says,
“With joy you will draw water from the
fountains of salvation.”
These verses speak to us of our Savior and
are in keeping with the theme of this Sunday's
first reading, “The Lord your God is a mighty
savior.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
And having been promised salvation, we are to
“Rejoice in the Lord always,” as St Paul tells us
in Sunday's second Reading. (Philippians 4:4)
And what effect does the promise of salvation
have on us? We draw strength from our saving
relationship with God – Isaiah says it for us,
“I am confident and unafraid.” (Remember, God’s
perfect love drives out fear.) Isaiah gives us further
evidence, “My strength and my courage is the Lord.”
And where does the power come from that is the
source of our courage? It comes from our baptism,
first with water, then from our baptism in the Holy
Spirit. This is the good news that John preached
when he promised that the Christ would baptize us
with the Holy Spirit. (Gospel, Luke 3:16)
And as Isaiah reminds us, during this season of Advent
we are to sing praise to the Lord -- “Let the good news
be known throughout all the earth!” We are to “Shout
with exultation, for great in our midst, is the Holy One
of Israel!”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Response this Sunday is, 'Cry out with joy and gladness:
for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.' Describe how
you prepare to receive Jesus inside your heart during this season
of Advent.
2. Isaiah says, 'My strength and my courage is the Lord.' Explain
what this verse means to you, especially at this time of the year.
Reflections
Psalm 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (Read)
“The Lord has done great things for us.”
This Sunday's Psalm speaks about the
joyous return of Israel from exile and
captivity. “The Lord has restored the
captives of Zion.” As we hear in
Sunday's 1st reading (Baruch 5:1),
Jerusalem is to take off her robe of
misery and to put on the splendor of
God forever. Truly, “The Lord has
done great things for them.”
But there is more -- as the Psalm says,
the Lord has done great things for us
as well. What could be more wonderful
than what Christ does for us, in leading
us out of our spiritual captivity in a sinful
world, to a place of splendor where the
Father dwells. We are restored by the
Lord’s grace, and our spiritual dryness
is filled with the baptismal waters, like
the dry stream beds of the Negeb.
But we must do our part – the 'sowing
of tears' is a time of repentance for us.
It is just as John the Baptist proclaims
in the Gospel – we must be baptized in
repentance, for the forgiveness of our sins.
(Luke 3:3)
And what is the sign of true repentance?
It is when one produces good fruit by
what we sow. As the Psalm says,
“Those who go forth weeping, carrying
sacks of seed, will return with cries of joy,
carrying their bundled sheaves.”
Finally the Psalm reminds us that the
truly great thing the Lord has done for us
is to send His only begotten Son to be by
our side. Jesus’ presence is a guarantee
of a spiritual harvest that leads to our
own salvation.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist reminds us, 'We are filled with joy,' because the Lord
has done great things for us! Tell of how these verses speak to you
during this Advent season of the arrival of our incarnate Lord.
2. The Psalm says, 'Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.' Describe how repentance has led to salvation in your spiritual life.
