Reflections
“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
David writes this psalm almost
as though these verses are to be
part of the Passion of Christ.
The psalm even becomes the
prayer of Christ at the time
of His crucifixion and speaks
of the suffering that our Savior
experiences on our behalf.
People are the same today as they
were back then, when Jesus was being
led to the cross. We scoff at Him;
we mock Him; we wag our heads;
and hurl insults at Him.
Why? Because He became sin; He took our
sins upon himself and become contemptible
in our eyes. He reminds us that we are a sinful
people; He convicts us; He catches us in the lie;
He embarrasses us; He exposes us; He accuses
us of being hypocrites. The truth hurts! We who
are mired in the pit take a perverse delight in
seeing our Lord suffer for our sake.
sins upon himself and become contemptible
in our eyes. He reminds us that we are a sinful
people; He convicts us; He catches us in the lie;
He embarrasses us; He exposes us; He accuses
us of being hypocrites. The truth hurts! We who
are mired in the pit take a perverse delight in
seeing our Lord suffer for our sake.
Christ holds us to a higher standard; He remains
above sin; He speaks directly to God; He claims
to be God's Son; and we reject Him for this; and
mock Him. We do not move to assist Him;
let God rescue Him.
above sin; He speaks directly to God; He claims
to be God's Son; and we reject Him for this; and
mock Him. We do not move to assist Him;
let God rescue Him.
As our psalmist says, “He relied on the Lord –
let God deliver him; let God rescue him, if He
loves him.” These are the same words used by
those who conspired against Jesus when He was
dying on the cross. They did not realize that the
suffering and death of an innocent servant would
restore life for sinful man. The words they spoke
were to be fulfilled, not by Jesus coming down from
the cross, but by sinful humanity like us being
delivered, forgiven, and lifted up with God’s Son.
let God deliver him; let God rescue him, if He
loves him.” These are the same words used by
those who conspired against Jesus when He was
dying on the cross. They did not realize that the
suffering and death of an innocent servant would
restore life for sinful man. The words they spoke
were to be fulfilled, not by Jesus coming down from
the cross, but by sinful humanity like us being
delivered, forgiven, and lifted up with God’s Son.
We are reminded by St Paul in today's second reading
that Christ takes the form of a slave, obedient even to death
for our sake. (Philippians 2:7) And the prophet Isaiah in our
first reading speaks about the Messiah long before his birth
and predicts that He will be beaten and His beard will be
plucked. (Isaiah 50:6) But the suffering servant does not rebel
(as Isaiah tells us). He knows that He will not be put to shame.
The Father is not far off, even when Jesus lies hanging on the cross.
that Christ takes the form of a slave, obedient even to death
for our sake. (Philippians 2:7) And the prophet Isaiah in our
first reading speaks about the Messiah long before his birth
and predicts that He will be beaten and His beard will be
plucked. (Isaiah 50:6) But the suffering servant does not rebel
(as Isaiah tells us). He knows that He will not be put to shame.
The Father is not far off, even when Jesus lies hanging on the cross.
We know that what seemed like a moment of weakness for Christ
became a source of strength for the rest of us. As our psalmist says,
“You Lord do not stay far off; my strength, come quickly to help me.”
became a source of strength for the rest of us. As our psalmist says,
“You Lord do not stay far off; my strength, come quickly to help me.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist says, "All who see me scoff at me." Are you one of those
who mocked Christ? Can you identify with those who wagged their heads
and shouted, "Let God deliver him; let God rescue him." Explain.
2. The verses of the Psalm are a plea to the Lord, "Be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me." Give an example of a time when you have
called out to God to hurry and rescue you.
No I can't identify with those who mocked Christ because I have come to know Him and love Him through my study of the bible and asking the Holy Spirit to teach me and remind me of all Jesus said and did.
ReplyDeleteThe second question I can say yes to. There was a time some 46 years ago I was angry, bitter, unforgiving and depressed that I cried out to God and He filled me with His love and forgiveness and I realized then my tremendous need for Him to take over my life. I surrendered to Him. As I sit at home alone with Him during this virus pandemic I have never felt so much peace and love being poured into my heart. His presence is here with me as I know without a doubt I am a temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus isn't dead He is alive. I love this time alone with Him and talk to Him all through the day.
In Jesus' love
If I had been alive in the time of Jesus, would I have been one to mock Him? I think it’s easy to point a finger at the Jews, who literally knew Jesus, and yet still called for His death. It is easy to accuse Peter of a shallow faith with his quick denial of Jesus, even after having been such a close disciple. I want to say I would have done no such thing. However, a close and candid look at my life today shows areas where I have denied Him.
ReplyDeleteI feel truly blessed by the Lord’s provisions and gifts in my life. I was born to loving and faith-filled parents. I grew up in a bubble of privilege. I married a man who has powerful gifts of intellect, wisdom, and self-discipline. My children are growing in their faith and in their worldly knowledge. I have a strong network of Sisters in Christ with whom to share my walk toward Jesus.
And yet, I stumble.
When God asks me to lend a compassionate ear to a friend, do I ever say “no” and use the time for myself, instead?
When the Holy Spirit hovers near, offering me the ability to extend an olive branch to a family member (Such as an in-law), do I take it?
Do I use my material comfort for my own gain? Shopping and shopping for myself for example, when I could be donating the money to those in need?
Have pride and envy ever guided my behavior?
Have I tried to run away from the cross the Lord has given to ME?
My answer is ”yes” to all of the above and more. Any instance when I choose my way over His, is in a sense scoffing at Him and the love He prescribes.
The very moments I come to terms with my sin, are the moments when I call out to God for His rescue. These days, I am caught in a storm of anxiety and doubts over His good plans. I can be sailing along peacefully and then be jolted into panic by an unseen wave over my boat. (I suppose the entire globe can relate right now.)
The Lord is quite clear in this Psalm and in many areas of His Word — we must praise Him first. We must offer thanks and glorify Him in all that we do, in order to feel His presence near.
As in v.24, “You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you sons of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel!”
I have learned the antidote to feeling spiritually lost or far from the Lord. Praise Him. First. And then my heart melts with gratitude, the Spirit tearfully guides me back, and I recognize the Lord has been there the entire time — it’s just me who goes back and forth.