Psalm for Sunday, October 26, 2025

 

Reflections 

Psalm 34: 2-3, 17-18, 19, 23    (Read)

“Those who are crushed in spirit He saves.”

David's psalm assures us, 

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”

The word poor is said to apply to one

who depends completely on God

for his deliverance and his very life.

This is true for David as he is being 

pursued by his enemy.  It is true for us

in our own personal battle against the 

evil one. With God on our side victory 

is certain. “The Lord confronts the 

evildoers, to destroy remembrance 

of them from the earth.” 

St Paul is rescued from the lion's mouth 

and is empowered by the Lord to finish 

the race, to keep the faith, to complete 

the proclamation. In his own words, 

“The Lord stood by me and gave me 

strength.”  (2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17)

David affirms this, “The Lord redeems 

the lives of His servants; no one incurs 

guilt who takes refuge in Him.”

The Psalm says our prayers are heard 

if we have a right relationship with the Lord. 

“When the just cry out, the Lord hears them.” 

This is confirmed by the writer of Sirach -- 

“The one who serves God willingly is heard; 

his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer 

of the lowly pierces the clouds.” (Sirach 35: 20-21)

Jesus teaches us in this Sunday's Gospel,

“The one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

The tax collector preserves his relationship with 

God and goes home justified. (Luke 18: 13-14)

That too is part of being poor in spirit. If we want 

the Lord to be on our side, then we need 

to humble ourselves and recognize

our own lowly status.

And having done all that we can to keep a just 

relationship with our God, then we are to bless 

the Lord at all times, keep his praise ever in our 

mouths, and as the psalm says, “Let my soul 

glory in the Lord.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm tells us that God lifts up those who are crushed in spirit.  

However difficult it may be for us to be humble in spirit,  we can speak 

of how gratifying it is for us to depend solely on the Lord for our salvation.  

Tell of what this means to you personally.

2.   The verses of the Psalm tell us how to be sure that our prayers are heard.  

Our psalmist encourages us to have a right relationship with the Lord before 

we pray.  What is it that you do to be sure that  your prayers reach the ears 

of the Lord? 

 

Psalm for Sunday, October 19, 2025

Reflections

Psalm 121: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8   (Read)

“Our help is from the Lord.”
 
The Psalm is a prayer for believers
when we are uncertain, when we face
the dangers of this world, or when we
encounter obstacles on our journey of
faith and works.

Where does our help come from?
As our psalmist says, it comes from 
the Lord.   Just as Moses raised up 
his hands and obtained God's intervention 
on the side of Israel (Exodus 17:11-12),
so too the Psalm calls for us to look upward 
for God’s help, “I lift up my eyes toward the
mountains.”
And our psalmist reminds us, “The Lord is your
guardian.”  We are obliged to pray, “May He not
suffer our foot to slip.”

We may rest assured that our Lord sends us the Holy
Spirit to safeguard us, and we give thanks that our
protector is a guard who never falls asleep at his post,
nor is He ever off duty.  “May He slumber not who
guards you, indeed He neither slumbers nor sleeps.”

When we do battle with evil or injustice
who can we turn to?   Are we likely to overcome
the powers and principalities that threaten us
along the road by depending on our puny defenses?
Not so, the Psalm reminds us.  Without the Lord as our
shade we are subject to the sun's harmful rays
and the moon's evil influences.  But if we trust
in the Lord,  “The Lord will guard you from all evil.”

But how do we get God’s attention when we need
His help?  Jesus tells us how in the Gospel –
we are to pray with persistence, without becoming
weary,  like the widow who obtains a just decision
from the unwilling judge. (Luke 18:1-5)
And as the Psalm concludes, if our faith is strong, 
and we trust in the Lord,
“The Lord will guard our coming and going,
both now and forever.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist says that the Lord is beside you at your right hand.   
Speak of what it is that reassures you of the Lord's protection on your 
journey.

2.  The Psalm is about the power of prayer and of trust in the Lord.  
Give an example of how you have persisted in prayer and obtained 
the Lord's help in overcoming difficulty.
 

Psalm for Sunday, October 12, 2025

Reflections

Psalm 98: 1, 2-3, 3-4   (Read)

“Sing to the Lord a new song.”   

 










The Lord makes all thing new, and we are 
a new creation, the work of his hands.
And so it is right that we sing a “new song” 
to the Lord, who has done marvelous things for us.   
 
This is a Psalm of joy, and because God's saving
power has been revealed to all the nations, we are
all encouraged to “break into song, sing praise.”
 
“The Lord's right hand and holy arm have won
the victory.”  It is clear from this Sunday's readings
that God's healing power is not limited to the Israelites.
In this Sunday's first reading the Syrian army commander
Naaman is healed in the land of Yahweh.  (2 Kings 5:14)
 
And in Sunday's second reading, St Paul reminds us
that the 'word of God is not chained' and that if we
persevere and die with Christ, we too will be counted
among the living, the chosen ones.   (2 Timothy 2: 9-10)
 
Then in the Gospel, God's saving power is made
available to a grateful Samaritan, who is the only
one healed that has learned to sing the new song,
glorifying God in a loud voice and falling at the feet
of Jesus in thanksgiving.  (Luke 17: 11-19)
 
God's salvation flows out to all people, whether they
be soldiers from foreign lands, lepers, or those imprisoned.
And how is salvation obtained, how is the victory won?
It is won by God's holy arm, His son, our Savior
Jesus Christ.  Victory is obtainable for us too, if we
keep the faith, give thanks to God, and praise Him.
As the Psalm says, “Shout with joy to the Lord, sing praise.”   
 
Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Psalmist declares, "The Lord has revealed to the nations His saving power."  Tell of how the Lord has revealed to you personally His saving power.
 
2.  The Psalm urges us to "Sing to the Lord a new song."   Speak of what it means to you to have learned the 'new song' of praising and worshiping the one true God.