Reflections

Psalm 65: 10, 11, 12-13, 14 (Read)

“The Lord has visited the land

and watered it; greatly has He

enriched it.”

Water is so critical for a

place like the Holy Land,

as it is here in the arid

climate of Southern

California. Without water

we could not produce any fruit. We are blessed that “God's watercourses are filled” and He provides us with an abundant harvest.

We also depend upon the Lord to supply us with what

Jesus called the living water

that satisfies our spiritual thirst.

Jesus is the Word that drenches us,

adorns our year with plenty.

How else could we bear fruit?

With his showers He softens the land,

blessing its young sprouts (that is us).

We are like untilled meadows without

his word and his grace. How else

could we expect our pastures

to be blanketed with grain?

The Lord prepares the earth;

He adorns our paths with fruitful rain.

The hills are robed in joy.

God’s Word is showered down upon us,

and does not return to God void;

we do his will;

we are his witnesses;

we keep the faith.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1. Our psalmist speaks about the Lord having visited the land and watered it.

Tell of how the Lord has drenched you with His living water that yields a fruitful

harvest.

2. The Psalm assures us that the Lord breaks up the clods of the land and

softens it with showers. Give an example of how God's Word has softened

you up spiritually and led you to do His will.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Studying the Psalms

The Psalms are a powerful part of the Mass and are often overlooked in Catholic Bible studies. I believe the Psalms should be studied in relation to the Gospel and the other scripture readings of the Mass, and we should attempt to see how the Psalms tie in to the teaching of the day.

The Psalms, although written thousands of years ago and well before the time of Christ, are alive, and speak powerfully to each of us. These reflections that appear in these pages talk of how we apply the verses of the Psalms to our everyday life and how the Psalms can inspire us, convict us, teach us, and strengthen our faith.

About Barry Lamont

As an adult convert, Barry was baptized nearly 40 years ago in Boston, along with his wife and his two daughters.
His eyes were opened, and he recognized Jesus as the way to his salvation and as the way to ensure the spiritual well being
of his wife and his children. He is now a daily communicant.

Barry realizes there is a spiritual battle going on all around him, and he needs all the weapons that his faith provides.
Scripture says the sword of the spirit is the Word of God.
Barry believes the Word is a powerful instrument of God that
can purify and strengthen him, and guide him.

Following his retirement some ten years ago, Barry began to study the Sunday readings as a member of the Bread of Life Bible Study. He was inspired to celebrate the Psalms as a way of doing the Lord's work. Armed with the power of the Word, Barry believes he is better equipped to do the will of the Lord, who speaks to us through the verses of the Psalms. The Bible says, “It was I who chose you.” Barry now has a job from which he will not be retiring.