Psalm for Sunday, January 4, 2015

Reflections

Psalm 72:  1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13  (Read) 

"All kings shall pay Him homage."  

 



The Psalm is a prayer for our newborn King.      
Our psalmist speaks of a Messiah who will be 
like the “rain coming down upon the fields,
like showers watering the earth.”  Our psalmist 
prays that our newborn King will be anointed 
by God with divine judgment and empowered
to rule the earth.

The prophet Isaiah in our 1st reading predicts 
that the light of the Lord will cause our hearts 
to overflow and the riches of the sea to be 
emptied out before us.  (Isaiah 60:5)
Our psalmist also speaks of “abundance”
that will flourish in his days.”

But the Messiah is among us to do more than 
bless us materially; the savior has come to make 
our burdens light, to share our afflictions.
“For he rescues the poor when they cry out,
shows pity to the needy and the poor,
saves the lives of the poor.”

We see the light, just as the prophet Isaiah said
we would. (Isaiah 60:1)  In the Psalm, the mystery 
is revealed to us, poor in spirit though we are:
“He rescues the poor when they cry out [as we do],
the oppressed who have no one to help.”

This is what our Good Shepherd Jesus is sent to do,
to shepherd God’s people. This is why we join the Magi 
in paying homage to our newborn King and join 
with our psalmist in singing, "Blessed be the Lord; 
Blessed be His glorious name."

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist mentions 'afflicted ones' and 'the afflicted'
in two of the Psalm's verses.  Are there times when you can
identify yourself as an 'afflicted' one?   Tell what remedies
are available to you that are mentioned in the Psalm.

2.  The Psalm says, 'Lord, every nation on earth will
adore you.'   Using the verses of the Psalm, explain why
'all kings' would want to pay homage to our Lord.