Psalm for Sunday, November 30, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9    (Read)

“I rejoiced when they said to me, 

'Let us go up to the house of the Lord.”

This Sunday we revisit this Psalm that sings of a 

spiritual journey to the house of the Lord, the holy 

city of Jerusalem.  In Sunday’s first reading the 

prophet Isaiah also speaks about a journey to Zion, 

to the house of God, and to God’s holy mountain. 

(Isaiah 2: 2-3)   We too are called to make that 

same journey, that we may walk in His paths. 

Our psalmist says, “Our feet are standing within 

your gates, Jerusalem.” 

But why are we called to make that journey?

Firstly, we stand with the Israelites who already 

dream of gathering together at some future time.

But secondly, for us as Christians, the psalm is a 

vision of the end times, when our spiritual 

pilgrimage leads us from earth to heaven.

Our psalmist says we are called to give thanks 

to the name of the Lord, but we note also there 

are set up judgment seats at our destination.

For our journey ends where God resides, His 

kingdom of heaven, and we must be prepared 

to be in His presence. 

St Paul, in Sunday’s second reading,

cautions us to throw off the works of darkness, 

and to put on the armor of light, to conduct 

ourselves properly as in the day, to put on the

Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 13: 12-14)

Jesus himself says in this  Sunday's Gospel ,

“You must be prepared, for at an hour you do 

 not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

(Matthew 24:44)

Jerusalem in the Psalm symbolizes for us the 

end of our journey, being present with the Lord. 

This is what God has planned for His people --

When we arrive in God's holy city, the kingdom 

of God will come to us in its fullness, and we will 

live in peace. As the psalmist tells us, we will be 

filled with a desire to say, "Peace be with you,

I will pray for your good.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

  
1.  As we begin a new season of Advent, the Psalm  encourages us to be prepared for the time when we  will be in God's kingdom and He will be present to us.   Speak about what you are doing to prepare yourself  to be in God's holy city.

2.  As we prepare to receive the Prince of Peace within  our midst, our psalmist asks us to pray for peace within  the walls of the holy city and within ourselves.  What are you doing to ensure that you have peace within you and  how are you conveying your peace to others around you?

Psalm for Sunday, November 23, 2025

 

Reflections 

Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5   (Read)

 

“We will go up to the house of the Lord.”

The Psalm is about a pilgrimage to the holy  city of Jerusalem. “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” And for us it may also be about  a spiritual journey that we must embark upon if we are to enter the Lord’s kingdom and be present to the King of Kings.

For us the way is clear -- we have only to follow God's beloved Son, our Savior.  For just as God chose David to be the shepherd for his chosen people (2 Samuel 5:2), so God chose his Son Jesus to lead us to redemption.  And as St Paul says, the Father saw to it that we would be transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son. (Colossians 1:13,14)

The gate is narrow, but as the psalmist says, 
“And now our feet are standing within your 
gates, Jerusalem.” Now we too have a share 
in Christ’s inheritance.

And what draws us to make the journey 
through the narrow gate?  We seek to be with 
the Lord, just as did St Dismas, the thief who
was crucified with Jesus on Calvary. 
Sunday’s Gospel quotes St Dismas
when he says, “Jesus, remember me when you 
come into your kingdom.” 
The Lord replies, “Today you will be with me
in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

This is our goal, too – to complete that pilgrimage 
the psalmist speaks about, to reach that 
holy city where are the “thrones of justice, the 
thrones of the house of David.”

Jerusalem in the Psalm symbolizes for us 
the end of our journey, being present with the Lord.
This is what God has planned for his people.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Psalm speaks of a journey to the Lord's kingdom.   What progress are you making along the way on your own journey to the Lord's holy city?

2.  The psalmist mentions that he has set foot within the gates of Jerusalem.  Describe your decision to walk the walk and go through the narrow gate that leads to redemption and a share in our Lord's inheritance.

Psalm for Sunday, November 16, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 98: 5-6, 7-8, 9   (Read)

“The Lord comes to govern the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.” 

The Psalm is about the coming of God, 
and the promise is made that when the Lord 
comes, he will govern the earth with justice.

Scripture teaches us that we do not know when 
the Lord will come, and we are warned to be ready 
because it may happen like a thief in the night.
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus speaks about the 
day of judgment, when awesome sights and mighty 
signs will come from the sky and when the disciples 
will be hated by all because of His name.

Although the Psalm is about the joy of the Lord’s 
coming, there may be reason for anxiety on our part.
The Book of Malachi warns us that the day is coming
when evildoers will be set on fire and become stubble.

Should we be afraid of the Lord’s judgment?
One thing is sure—we need to be ready, to prepare
to face the arrival of God.   We do not know when that
day may come;  some in our generation doubt that
day will come at all.   For those who have put their
trust in the Lord, and attempted to apply His teachings
toward others they meet in the course of their day,
there will be rejoicing and praise.  For others who 
have slacked off and found fault with their neighbors
and have not lifted a helping hand, shame and destruction
may be at hand.  After all, we are called to be caregivers; 
we are indeed our brother’s keeper.

“The Lord comes to govern the earth.” 
We may not always welcome someone who comes 
to rule over us.  Or to judge us.  But the Lord brings 
His “healing rays.”   He is after all the “sun of justice.” 
The Book of Malachi assures us that if we fear the Lord,
“The sun of justice will arise with its healing rays.”

There is hope for us, as we struggle not to be idle, 
and face those who hate us because of our faith.
Our Lord liberates us from whatever holds us back 
or drags us down.  And we kick up our heels like 
“calves being released from the stall.”

The Psalm repeatedly tells us to be joyful about 
the Lord’s coming; to sing praise to the Lord;
to shout with joy to the Lord.  We join with our 
surroundings, “Let the rivers clap their hands, 
the mountains shout with them for joy.” 

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm speaks about the Day of the Lord,
when He will come to rule the earth with justice.
Are you ready for the Lord's coming?   Speak about
how you are preparing for it.

2.  Our psalmist writes about those who dwell 
in the world shouting for joy before the Lord,
when He comes to rule the earth.   Explain how you
will sing praise to the Lord and sing joyfully before
the King, the Lord.

Psalm for Sunday, November 9, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 46: 2-3, 5-6, 8-9   (Read)

“There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the most High.” 

The Psalm speaks of a life giving stream that keeps the city of God undisturbed and viable.  
And the prophet Ezekiel affirms there are life giving waters flowing out from the sanctuary of the temple, which is the Church.  (Ezekiel 47:9)  

This holy water brings life and fruit to areas where nothing could
have grown before.  

It is the same for us.  The Church is the source of our 
baptismal waters where we receive God's grace and 
are called to spread hope and encouragement and the
Good News wherever we go.   For us, Christ is the 
source of that living water that flows from the temple 
of His body.

The Psalm speaks of the holy waters that flow round
the Church and round us personally.  These waters 
gladden us.  These waters are a source of blessing for us. 
They spring forth and nourish our inner being, purify us, 
and are a source of healing.  We are after all the holy 
dwelling of the Most High, the holy temple of God, 
as St Paul tells us.   Our body is a temple of the Holy 
Spirit that resides inside us.  (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Our psalmist says God is in the midst of His holy dwelling.
We understand this verse to mean—so long as God is
in our midst we shall not be disturbed.  “The Lord of
hosts is with us.”  He is our stronghold.  The divine 
presence in the temple of our body assures us of our 
security, despite a world around us that is falling apart.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm assures us there are holy waters all around us.
Speak of how you are gladdened by these holy waters and how
these waters give you the grace you need to proclaim the Gospel.

2.  Our psalmist affirms that the Lord of hosts is with us.  Tell of
how you are made whole and given power by the presence of the 
Holy Spirit living within you.

Psalm for Sunday, November 2, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 23: 1-3, 3-4, 5, 6   (Read)

“The Lord is my shepherd.”

We are like sheep, and we look to the Good Shepherd to lead us beside still waters, and guide us along the right paths.
We fear no harm, because the Good Shepherd is at our side.  Where else should we turn?

Our Lord restores us when we are down, protects us with his rod and his staff when we are threatened.  We lack nothing when we trust in the Lord.  We fear nothing, even when our lives are at a low point spiritually or physically.

Our eyes are opened by our trust in the Lord; 
we are led out of the dark valley of sin where 
we did fruitless things in secret.  Like our psalmist 
King David, we are anointed with oil by the Lord, 
and we make a covenant with Him.

Our trust in the Lord is rewarded.  He sends His Son 
to save us, and His Spirit to live within us.  Surely 
goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life.

“I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
The promise that King David speaks of in his final days 
is what Jesus died for.  Jesus reconciles us with the 
Father, and when Jesus is raised up, we too are resurrected.
  
Having been rescued by our Savior, and now counted 
among His obedient sheep, we are ready to do His will. 
We are groomed to enter the Kingdom and to sit at the 
table that God sets for us.  If we believe in Him, we too 
shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.   Our Psalm speaks of the Lord as our Shepherd. Do you believe 
you are one of His sheep?  What does it mean to be counted among His flock?

2.  Our psalmist says that the Lord anoints his head with oil.  Are you one of the Lord's anointed?   Describe how the Lord is using you as one of His anointed.