Reflections
“May He rule from sea to sea, and
from the River to the ends of the earth.”
Our psalmist speaks about a
perfect king – a king who judges like God,
governs His people with justice, His afflicted
with right judgment. The psalm's verses speak
of a king that is to live as long as the sun endures,
like the moon through all generations.
The more we read the Psalm, the more it tells us
about the Messiah to come – “May all kings bow
before him, all nations serve him.” He is to fulfill
all the hopes placed upon Him by the prophets.
And, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,”
as Isaiah says beautifully in this Sunday's 1st reading.
Only the expected Messiah can receive from God
the wisdom and judgment to govern the people with
justice. The Messiah brings great prosperity and
rules the promised land from sea to sea.
The Psalm's verses recall for us our Savior's
promises, to rescue us when we cry out and save us
when we are oppressed. He lifts us up when we are
poor in spirit.
We see the light -- the Messiah is revealed to us Christians
as Christ our King. “May His name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun His name shall remain.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. This Sunday's Psalm speaks of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is to be endowed by God as a just King. Describe how you will
make room for the Lord in your life so that He may govern how you conduct
yourself this Advent season.
2. Our psalmist writes about the profound peace that will flourish when the
Messiah arrives. Tell of how you will receive the Lord's peace during Advent
and how this will affect your life.
How will I conduct myself this Advent season? It is already the second Sunday of Advent and I feel disappointed in myself. I have placed too much importance on the superficial trappings of Christmas. Have I also let down the Lord? In his justice, my King has every right to blot me out of existence.
ReplyDeleteBut my King, my God, is also love. We know that infinite love overpowers all other things. Throughout all of the week's readings, we see that God loves his people. And out of this perfect love, he creates chance after chance for our repentance -- turning away from sinful patterns. We can wake up and understand that each of us is Israel. "I am Israel," declares author Julien Green during his conversion, described by Pope Benedict XVI, in his book "Seek That Which is Above."
I can feel that I am loved, just as one of God's chosen. And I can turn back to Him, again and again. He is always there, with the open invitation. This unwavering example of love sparks in me a flame of love and mercy for others, just as love and mercy are shown to me.
I hope to recall this truth as I live out my days of the remainder of this Advent season, preparing my heart to be a comfortable home for Christ.