Reflections
Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5, 6
“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home.”
Our psalmist tells us that
a man who has a right relationship
with the Lord will also obtain
a right relationship with his wife
and his family.
And walking in the ways of the Lord
will be reflected in the way a man
treats his wife. A man’s wife is after all,
“bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.”
(Genesis, 1st reading)
As Christ nourishes the Church,
so a man cherishes his wife,
and nourishes his relationship with her.
And the man’s reward is that his wife
will be like a ‘fruitful vine’ within
his house. This is how a man is blessed
who fears the Lord.
If we have a right relationship with
the Lord, we will know how to treat
our wives and our children, and in turn,
we will discover how blessed we are
in our home and by the presence
of our family. “Just so will they be blessed
who fear the Lord.”
Having been so favored by God,
we understand why, “A man shall leave
his father and mother and be joined
to his wife.” God made them one flesh,
and, “What God has joined, no human
being may separate.” (Gospel)
If we fear the Lord and walk in His
ways, we will receive the blessings
of our labor, prosper in a material way,
and grow old gracefully in the company
of our wife and children.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist speaks of the benefits of a right relationship with the Lord.
Tell of how fearing the Lord has led you to have a better relationship
with your spouse and your family members.
2. The Psalm asks, "May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives."
Recall how you have been blessed by God, both physically and spiritually,
and how you have been inspired to walk in His ways.
Blessings from the Lord come in all sizes. There are many things that we are Blessed with, yet take for granted. Simple things like waking up every morning to start a new day or enjoying God's creations all around us. The Lord has blessed me with a loving husband whom I have recently celebrated 18 wonderful years with and healthy twin sons who are now teenagers. I am blessed with loving parents and a sister who is always there for me. My list of Blessings can go on and on. Blessings can also come in disguise, when we were looking into which high school would be best for our boys we contemplated between a well known public school with a rigorous curriculum where you had to apply to get in vs an all boys Catholic school. One of our boys wished to attend the the public high school and I was for it as well. His twin brother and my husband wished that they continue their education at a Catholic school. We prayed, and waited to hear acceptance results and in the end God guided us toward the Catholic high school. It has been a true Blessing as both of our boys are happy and thriving with new friends and doing very well in their studies. Our lives are full of Blessings both big and small, let us take the time to turn to God and be Thankful for all of them.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteBlessings from the Lord come in all sizes. There are many things that we are Blessed with, yet take for granted. Simple things like waking up every morning to start a new day or enjoying God's creations all around us. The Lord has blessed me with a loving husband whom I have recently celebrated 18 wonderful years with and healthy twin sons who are now teenagers. I am blessed with loving parents and a sister who is always there for me. My list of Blessings can go on and on. Blessings can also come in disguise; when we were looking into which high school would be best for our boys we contemplated between a well known public school with a rigorous curriculum where you had to apply to get in vs an all boys Catholic school. One of our boys wished to attend the public high school and I was for it as well. His twin brother and my husband wished that they continue their education at a Catholic school. We prayed, and waited to hear acceptance results and in the end God guided us toward the Catholic high school. It has been a true Blessing as both of our boys are happy and thriving with new friends and doing very well in their studies. Our lives are full of Blessings both big and small. Let us take the time to turn to God and be Thankful for all of them.