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?
Whenever we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, I come to realize how God manifested his glory to us through the three wise man, the Magi.
ReplyDeleteThey saw a star and chose to follow it all the way to find a new born baby, Jesus.
They found the baby Jesus, and knelt down to worship him and pay him homage, and offered gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. They saw Jesus’ divinity and experienced the glory of God. Jesus came into this world as Lord in order to rescue the afflicted, poor, lonely, lowly, oppressed. At the same time our psalmist speaks about a perfect king who judges like God, governs his people with justice.
I was overwhelmed by God’s manifestation. God truly loves the world so that He sent his only begotten son to save us.
When I looked at the wise men closely, they changed their route to go back to their home lands. Why ? Seeing and worshipping Jesus their lives must have been changed.
I want my life's pattern to be changed by seeing and worshipping Jesus as my Savior. Lord help me to see you anew. Help me to experience the same joy and gratitude to fill my heart as the Magi did. So that I can be inspired to bring the gifts of obedience and being a servant of yours.