“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.
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.
Life-giving waters. Life-giving Holy Spirit. Both water and the Spirit are needed for our physical and spiritual bodies -- our temples.
ReplyDeleteThrough natural disasters like tsunamis or typhoons, we can see the destructive and powerful force of water. But the God who created this very same water, also designed H2O to sustain all life -- plants, animals, and human beings. As the Psalmist says, "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High." The waters of the Lord cleanse and purify us. We see this through baptism... but also as we imagine being bathed in his holiness at Mass, Adoration, prayer, or in obeying His commands to be his hands and feet for others. We are graced to become zealous for Him.
His ever-present Spirit resides within us as well, guiding us to stand as firm temples of his glory. We do not need to make further sacrifices to our Father, but rather to contemplate on the perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ. He is the foundation of our souls. When we forget that truth, we are shaken to the core.
When this happens, I remember two words: "But God." But God... in his love, is always there to help me dust off the sin and distraction. He redirects me to the gifts and purposes that are uniquely mine to share with "the field" (From first reading, Ezekiel 3:9). But God undoes the knots in my life and creates solutions for my messes that no human could concoct. But God allows me to return to Him in utter humility and discouragement, and just be embraced. Refueled. But God can do all things. And I am forever dependent on Him for everything.