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.

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.

Psalm for Sunday, October 5, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9    (Read)

"Oh that today you would hear His voice."
   
 











Knowing God's will is hard enough;
discernment is a gift from God.
But even if we are gifted enough to
be able to discern God 's will,
can we have the courage and conviction
to actually do His will?   Today more than 
ever we need to hear His voice.  As God the
Father said, “This is my beloved Son
with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

In the Gospel, Jesus instructs the disciples
how to do all they have been commanded.  
As followers of Jesus, we too are to do all 
that we are obliged to do.

Doing the will of God must have been 
difficult even for the disciples, hand picked 
by our Lord himself.  How much more so is 
the will of God a challenge for ordinary 
persons like us?  Even the disciples must 
have been in awe of what Jesus was 
commanding them to do.

“Harden not your hearts.”
Our spiritual history is full of occasions
where the faithful were known to have
hardened their hearts and refused to listen
to God's voice, though they had seen
His works, as our psalmist mentions.
But after all, He is our God, as the psalm says,
and we are the people he shepherds.

Our job is to kneel before the Lord who
made us and to carry out His will the best
we can.   And if we are careful to listen 
to His voice, He will empower us to do 
His will, just as Jesus empowered the 
disciples to rise up to the challenge of 
the great commission and to become ordinary
men performing extraordinary deeds.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection
 
1.  Our psalmist encourages us not to harden our hearts 
when we hear God's voice.   Do you find it difficult sometimes 
to carry out God's will in your life even if you believe 
He is speaking to you?   Give an example.

2.  The psalm reminds us that we are like sheep and the Lord is 
our shepherd.   Are you willing to be just an ordinary sheep among 
His flock?  If so, what does it mean to you to be shepherded 
by the Lord?