Reflections
Psalm 29: 1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10
“Bow down before the Lord's holy splendor!”
The Psalm is about the splendor and
the power of God. “Give to the Lord
the glory due God’s name. Bow down
before the Lord’s holy splendor.” The
Psalm speaks of the voice of the Lord,
“Thundering over the waters.” “The voice
of the Lord is power, the voice of the Lord
is splendor.”
That same awesome voice was heard
over the Jordan River that day when
the heavens were torn open and the
Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus just
after he was baptized. What could be
more powerful than the voice of God
declaring, “This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased.”
What happened at the Jordan River
that day was to fulfill what the Lord
said to Isaiah (lst reading) – “Here is
my servant whom I uphold, my chosen
one with whom I am pleased, upon whom
I have put my spirit.”
The Lord's baptism may have
happened over 2000 years ago, but that
for us was an encouraging sign.
God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit
and power that day (2nd reading), the power
to serve the faithful (people like us), and
to do battle on our behalf with the devil.
From that time forward we too became
eligible to serve the Lord as His chosen
ones. Isaiah tells us what our spiritual
mission is to be: Like Jesus, we are to
be a light to the nations, and open the
eyes of the blind (those who do not know
the Lord). And imitating Jesus, we are
to bring out prisoners from confinement
(those who may be imprisoned by sin).
What better way would there be for us
to serve the Lord?
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm's verses speak of the power and
splendor of the voice of the Lord, thundering over
the waters. Have you heard God's powerful voice
speaking to you, anointing you as one of His chosen ones?
2. Our psalmist encourages us to give God the glory due
His holy name. Tell of how you give God the glory in your
activities and your everyday life.
The Catholic of a living faith, and he alone, can make this investigation. Our investigation goes only so deep as our love goes. An attitude of mere neutrality, or a cold realism is of no use here. Or, rather, only the man who himself lives in the Catholic life-stream, who in his own life daily feels the forces which pulsate through the vast body of Catholicism and which make it what it is: only he can know the full meaning and complete reality of it. Just as the loving child alone can truly know the character of its beloved mother, and just as the deepest elements of that character, the tenderness and intimacies of her maternal love, cannot be demonstrated by argument but only learnt by experience-Karl Adam (1876-1966) The Spirit of Catholicism. Go deep my brothers and sisters.
ReplyDeleteWe are God's chosen ones even though we are "the gentiles." And, if we live here in Emerald Heights, I know we have all been blessed.
ReplyDeleteHave I heard God speak to me? He shows me the way, and guides me. He helps me make choices that are good for me and the community. I feel that He is there when I ask for His help and support. I pray and try to follow His commandments. I try to keep the lines of communication open, and I try very hard to listen and do the right thing in His name.
"The Catholic of a living faith, and he alone, can make this investigation. Our investigation goes only so deep as our love goes. An attitude of mere neutrality, or a cold realism is of no use here. Or, rather, only the man who himself lives in the Catholic life-stream, who in his own life daily feels the forces which pulsate through the vast body of Catholicism and which make it what it is: only he can know the full meaning and complete reality of it. Just as the loving child alone can truly know the character of its beloved mother, and just as the deepest elements of that character, the tenderness and intimacies of her maternal love, cannot be demonstrated by argument but only learnt by experience." -- Karl Adam (1876-1966), The Spirit of Catholicism. Go deep my brothers and sisters.
ReplyDelete