Psalm for Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026

Reflections

Psalm 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23   (Read)

“This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad.”

Jesus’ risen presence among us

is living proof of God’s enduring love. 

As the psalmist says, “God’s love endures 

forever.”  The Lord’s deliverance is cause

for joy.  Just when we were down, the Lord 

raises us up. The joyful shout of deliverance

is heard. We are on firm ground after all – 

Christ has become our cornerstone.

In the Psalm we read in advance of the 

Paschal Mystery. Christ, who is rejected 

and then exalted, becomes the foundation

stone of the new People of God -- 

“I shall not die, but live and declare the 

works of the Lord.” This is Jesus speaking 

about His own resurrection and about His 

food, which is to do the work of the Father.

The Psalm says, “The right hand of the 

Lord has struck with power; the right hand 

of the Lord is exalted.” Our days of mocking 

our Savior are over; we no longer hurl insults 

at Him. 

Our savior has risen. “By the Lord has this 

been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.”

“The joyful shout of deliverance is heard in 

the tents of the victors.” The Psalm celebrates 

a great victory over death. This victory is 

delivered by the Lord’s right hand, a clear 

notice in advance of the power of the Son of God.

Our risen Savior has defeated death and the 

grasp that sin has on us. And having been saved,

what are we to do? What is our commission? 

St Peter tells us in today's first reading, “He 

commissioned us to preach to the people and 

testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God.” 

(Acts 10:42)

Christ has become our cornerstone. “The stone 

the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.”

Christ has become a source of strength for us, 

despite his apparent weakness that day on the cross, 

when He died a shameful death. Only the Lord 

could have done this remarkable thing:

“This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

 
1.  The Psalm speaks of a great victory over death, 'I shall not die, but live.'  
Tell of how you share in Christ's victory over death and what this means to you.

2.  Having been saved from death, the psalmist says he will 'declare the works of the Lord.'   Speak of how you are empowered by our Lord's resurrection to go forth and proclaim the Gospel.

Psalm for Sunday, March 29, 2026

 

Reflections

Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

“My God, my God, why have you 

abandoned me?”

David writes this psalm almost as 

though it were planned to be part 

of the Passion of Christ.  In fact 

the psalm becomes the prayer of 

Christ at the time of his crucifixion 

and speaks of the suffering that our 

Savior experiences on our behalf.

People are the same today as they were 

back then, when Jesus was being led to 

the cross.  We scoff at him; we mock him; 

we wag our heads and hurl insults at him.

Why?

Because he becomes contemptible in 

our eyes. He reminds us that we are a 

sinful people; he convicts us; he catches 

us in the lie;  he embarrasses us; he 

exposes us; he accuses us of being 

hypocrites. 

He holds us to a higher standard;

He speaks directly to God; 

He claims to be God's Son; 

and we reject him for this; and mock him. 

We do not move to assist him. 

Let God rescue him – 

“He relied on the Lord; let him deliver him;

let him rescue him, if he loves him.” 

These words of the psalm are the same 

words used by those who conspired against 

Jesus when he was dying on the cross. 

They did not realize that the suffering and 

death of an innocent servant would restore 

life for sinful man. The words they spoke 

were to be fulfilled, not by Jesus coming 

down from the cross, but by sinful humanity 

like us being delivered, forgiven, 

and lifted up. 

We are reminded by St Paul in today's second 

reading that Christ takes the form of a slave, 

obedient even to death for our sake. 

(Philippians 2:7-8) 

Isaiah in today's first reading speaks 

about the Messiah long before his birth and 

predicts that he will be beaten, and his beard 

will be plucked. (Isaiah 50:4-7)

But the servant does not rebel (as Isaiah tells us).

He knows that he will not be put to shame. 

God the Father is not far off, even when Jesus lies 

hanging on the cross. The psalm describes the 

Passion of Christ, and we know that what seemed 

like a moment of weakness for Christ became a 

source of strength for sinful humanity. 

Ultimately God reverses this righteous man’s 

condition.  As our psalmist says, “But you, O Lord, 

be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me.” 

Hope returns, the righteous man is delivered, and he 

celebrates his deliverance – “I will proclaim your name 

to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will 

praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him.”

Amen

 

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.   Were you part of the crowd of evildoers who closed in on Christ, that our psalmist speaks about?   Tell of what part you play even today in mocking Christ.

2.   The psalm asks, 'My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?'  Do you believe that our Lord was truly abandoned by the Father?

  

Psalm for Sunday, March 22, 2026

 

Reflections 

Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8   (Read)

“With the Lord, there is mercy and fullness of redemption.” 

The psalmist calls to the Lord from “out of the depths” 
of his sin that has brought him near to death.  He asks
the Lord, “Hear my cry for mercy.”  He waits with longing
for the Lord, knowing that God forgives, and redeems us, 
even when we abandon Him.  “My soul looks for the Lord 
more than sentinels for daybreak.”

There is no way we can please God, so long as we remain
in the flesh, as St Paul says in Sunday's 2nd reading (Romans 8:8). 
But God forgives us, gives us 'life in the spirit' and saves us 
from death (remember 'the wages of sin is death.')  What
greater act of forgiveness could there be than the sacrifice 
of the Son of God for our sins?  “But with you there is 
forgiveness, that you may be revered.”

We too await our redemption with hope, knowing that even
if we are dead in our sins, the Lord will revive us.  We too 
cry out to the Lord for forgiveness –  “Lord, may your ears
be attentive  to my cry for mercy.”

Redemption is a promise made to us, just as the Lord 
promised  the Israelites that he would open their graves and 
put his Spirit within them, so they would live. (Ezekiel 37:12-14)

That same Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, and St Paul 
tells us the Spirit of God will give life to our mortal bodies also. (Romans 8:11)
This is that  “full redemption” the psalmist talks about that is
later made real to us in the Gospel story of Lazarus. (John 11:1-45)
And so we too have come to believe and revere our Lord, 
as happened in the Gospel among the Jews in Bethany.  
Truly, 'Our God is an awesome God.'

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist sings about the promise of forgiveness that is available to us 
if we trust in the Lord.   Speak about how you will seek out God's mercy during this Lenten season.

2.  The Psalm talks about 'plenteous redemption,' or the 'fullness of redemption.'   Tell what this means to you as you prepare for the coming of Easter.

Psalm for Sunday, March 15, 2026

 

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, March 8, 2026

Reflections

Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9    (Read)

“We are the people God 

shepherds, the flock He guides.”

The Psalm is a call to praise 

the Lord and to obey Him. 

We are cautioned not to 

'harden our hearts' as the 

Israelites did at Meribah. 

We are not to test the Lord 

as our spiritual ancestors 

tested the Lord 'as in the day 

of Massah in the desert.'  

After all, we are 'God’s well 

tended flock.' 

Our Lord is a good shepherd, and we 

are His sheep.  As St Paul tells us in 

today's second reading, the love of 

God is 'poured out into our hearts 

through the holy Spirit.' (Romans 5:5)

Knowing that, we should 'bow down 

in worship, kneel before the Lord 

who made us,'  as the Psalm says.

And when we humble ourselves

and open our hearts to the Lord, 

we are set free. We are no longer
constrained by the things of this world, 

and we can be open to His love and 

His teachings. 

Today's Gospel  affirms that Our Lord Jesus 

is our savior, and just as the life of the Samaritan

woman at the well was transformed by the words 

of Jesus, we too can be transformed, if we truly 

listen to the Lord.  Not only will He tell us 

'everything we ever did,' but He will give us 

that living water which quenches our spiritual 

thirst. (See John 4: 5-42)

At that point our hearts will no longer be hardened.

We will 'bow down in worship,' and as our psalmist

says, we will greet our Lord with a song of praise.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist encourages us not to harden our hearts if 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?

Psalm for Sunday, March 1, 2026

 

Reflections 

 Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22   (Read)

“The eyes of the Lord are upon those who

fear Him, to deliver them from death.”

The Psalm is praise for God’s providence,

the blessings He gives us. “The Lord fills 

the earth with goodness. His works are 

trustworthy.”

We may not have the faith of Abraham 

(Genesis 12:1-4), but we can be sure 

the Lord’s eyes are upon us – “The 

Lord’s eyes are upon those who hope 

for His gracious help.” As our psalmist 

says, “O Lord, we have put our hope 

in you.”

In Sunday's 2^nd reading, St Paul says 

that God has saved us and called us to 

a holy life.  (2 Timothy 1:9)

The Psalmist confirms this – “We are 

delivered from death, kept alive in times 

of famine.” We may not be starving for 

physical food, but we could face spiritual 

death from sin if we were not saved by 

our Lord Jesus.

“The eyes of the Lord are upon those 

who fear Him, to deliver them from death.”

Remember, the wages of sin is death, and 

we are all afflicted.  Fortunately for us, 

Christ destroyed death and brought life, 

as St Paul says (2 Timothy 1:10),

so it is natural that we openly ask for His 

help and His protection.   He is our shield 

in the spiritual battle that we all have to fight.   

“Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help 

and our shield.”

If we trust in the Lord, His eyes will be upon 

us so long as we count ourselves among 

those who fear Him, and we can expect 

to receive His grace. 

Through His goodness we can expect a 

transfiguration of our own, and that same light 

which shone from Jesus' face that day on 

Mt Tabor can be a source of light for us 

and those around us. “We have put our hope 

in you, O Lord.”

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  As our psalmist says, the Lord's eyes are upon us, and that is a good thing 

because of His saving grace.  Speak of how you depend on God's providence 

to preserve you as you go about your daily life amidst the world's attractions.

2.  The Psalm assures us that God's love and mercy will be granted to us, as we place our trust in Him.  Give an example of how you have trusted in the Lord and how you have benefited from His kindness.