Reflections
Psalm 62: 2-3, 6-7, 8-9 (Read)
“Only in God is my soul at rest;
I shall not be disturbed.”
The Psalm contrasts the appeal of
worldly pursuits against the tranquility
that is found in God alone.
“Only in God is my soul at rest.”
We are to open our hearts totally to
our Lord. We need not be 'disturbed'
at all by the vanity of riches or by seeking
success in wickedness and violence.
These attractions are fleeting; they
do not last; they are weightless in
their nothingness.
The one solid rock in our lives is God.
He alone is our stronghold, our salvation,
as our psalmist says. Even if a mother
should forget the child of her womb,
the Lord will never forsake us, as the
prophet Isaiah tells us in this Sunday's
1st reading.
We are all looking for inner peace, but the
world does not show us how to obtain it.
“Only in God be at rest, my soul.”
We do not put our faith in humans; worldly
success cannot last. Only in God do we put
our trust at all times, for our Lord will care
for us, clothe us, feed us, and give us spiritual
tranquility.
In the words of our Savior (this Sunday's Gospel),
“Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these
things will be given you besides.” Having put
our trust in the Lord, we pour out our hearts
before Him. “Rest in God alone my soul!”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm reminds us not to be 'disturbed'
by worldly issues or things that are vain.
Speak about how you are doing along your faith
journey so that you put God first in your life.
2. Our psalmist sings about how we may obtain
true inner peace, "Only in God be at rest, my soul."
Explain how you are able to obtain inner peace and
healing by trusting only in God.
Reflections
Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 (Read)
“The Lord redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.”
Our psalmist sings the praises of a divine
and loving God, who surrounds us with
compassion, pardons our sins, heals our ills.
He nurses no lasting anger; He has not dealt
with us as our sins deserve. Our duty is
to remain faithful to the Lord, and to treat
His anointed ones with love and compassion,
as He would do.
This Sunday's Gospel teaches a powerful and
difficult lesson – We are to be merciful to our
enemies by imitating the Father. The Psalm
tells us how, by being “Merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.”
Who can love their enemies, and do good to them?
It will be difficult if we allow our earthly nature
to rule us. Just as “God has not dealt with us
as our sins merit,” so must we imitate God and
have compassion on those we would typically
want to condemn.
We cannot imitate God without a share in Christ’s
divinity, and in turn being empowered by the holy
Spirit within us. Only then will we have the kind
of compassion the psalmist speaks about, “As a
father has compassion on his children, so the Lord
has compassion on the faithful.”
If we love the Lord, it will show in our hearts, and
the old things will then pass away. The Psalm says
it well: “As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He put our transgressions behind us.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm speaks of a loving and compassionate God,
who does not deal with us according to our sins. Are you able
to treat those who have harmed you in the same way? Explain.
2. The verses of the Psalm remind us of the power of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation, "As far as the east is from the
west,
so far has He put our transgressions behind us." Relate how the
Sacrament works for you to put your sins behind you.
Reflections
Psalm 119: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 (Read)
“Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.”
Our psalmist is in prayer asking for many things.
He asks, "Open my eyes, that I may consider the
wonders of your law." We may not think of the
law as wonderful, but rather may consider it restrictive
and harsh, but if we learn to do His will, we find that
we are liberated, set free from the sin that drags us
down. We choose life instead of death.
The Lord reveals to us very clearly how to live a life
that is "happy" and full of peace. "Happy are those
who observe God's decrees, who seek the Lord with
all their heart."
Our psalmist petitions, "Instruct me, O Lord, in the
way of your statutes that I may exactly observe them."
We cannot do this by ourselves, without God's help.
And so our psalmist asks, "Give me discernment that
I may keep [your law] with all my heart."
Doing God's will (keeping His commandments) isn't
easy, but having received His grace, and having been
granted discernment to know right from wrong,
good from evil, we can follow Him with conviction.
Our 'yes' will mean 'yes' to the Lord, and our 'no' will
mean 'no' to the devil and his minions. And just like
our psalmist we also pray "May my ways be firm in
the observance of your laws!"
Having decided to do His will, we take delight in
keeping His statutes; they are like honey to us.
And the blessings we receive are part of what
God has prepared for those who love Him.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist affirms that those who walk in the law of the Lord,
those who observe His decrees, will be happy and blessed. Based
on your own experience, how do you seek the Lord by keeping His
commandments.
2. The Psalm's verses petition the Lord to instruct us in the way of His
statutes. Tell of how you receive guidance and discernment from the Lord
that will help you observe His law and keep it with all your heart.
Reflections
Psalm 112: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (Read)
“Light shines through the darkness
to the upright.”
The Psalm inspires us to have a right
relationship with the Lord
(becoming 'upright.') Having done so,
having delighted in God's commands,
we begin to imitate Him and treat our
brothers and sisters as He would do.
“Light shines through the darkness to
the upright; he is gracious and merciful
and just.” These are heavenly qualities
(being gracious, and merciful and just),
and having God's light in our hearts
inspires us to do good works,
to “conduct our affairs with justice,”
“give to the poor lavishly.”
And as we measure out a good and
generous measure, our measure is returned
to us many times over. As the Psalm says,
we will be lifted up from within; our "horn
shall be exalted in glory."
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm's verses are in keeping with this Sunday's Gospel
and the reading from Isaiah. All three affirm that we people of
faith are the 'light of the world' and are motivated to do good
deeds.
Give an example of how your light shines through in the darkness.
2. Our psalmist speaks of a man whose 'heart is firm, trusting
in
the Lord,' whose 'heart is steadfast.' In our world today, what
makes
you firm of heart and trusting in the Lord?
