Reflections
Psalm 98: 1, 2-3, 3-4 (Read)
“The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.”
“Break into song, sing praise.”
The Lord makes all thing new, and we are a new creation,
the work of His hands. And so it is right that
we sing a 'new song' to the Lord,
who has done marvelous things for us.
“The Lord has made His salvation known;
in the sight of the nations He has revealed his justice.”
For us this can be about Jesus' victory
over death and sin, so that we might live.
And how is salvation obtained?
How is the victory won?
It is won by God's Holy arm,
His son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Victory is obtainable for us too,
if we keep the faith, give thanks to God, and praise Him.
Our Psalm exclaims,
“All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
This verse, and today's 1st reading
confirm that the gift of the Holy Spirit
is for us Gentiles too. (Acts 10:44-45)
For we are called to be baptized
in the name of Christ.
And as Jesus says in today's Gospel,
“It was not you who chose me,
but I who chose you.” (John 15:16)
We too are appointed by Him
to go forth and bear fruit,
to remain in the love of the Lord,
and to do His will.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm Response is, "The Lord has revealed to the nations his
saving power." How has the Lord shown his saving power to you personally?
2. Our Psalm speaks of singing a new song, of singing joyfully to the Lord,
and we are urged to break into song and sing praise. What is it about your faith
and the Easter season that makes you want to sing praise to the Lord?
The LORD has "made his people safe." He has brought them home from Babylon to Judah. The LORD is a special name that God’s people use. His people, the Jews, promised to love God and to obey him after the exile.
ReplyDeleteBut Christians also try to love and to obey God. And he will make them safe. But not safe as he made the Jews safe, bringing them home from exile. He will make Christians safe after they die. They will go to live with God after they die. This is what we call "salvation."
We could translate "made his people safe" as "given his people salvation." It means that He has made them safe from the results of the bad things that they have done. This is one of the wonderful (or very special) things that God does.
"His right hand" and "His holy arm" tell us that God does these wonderful things on earth. We cannot see His hand or His arm, but we know that God has done *wonderful things.
When we read the story of Jesus, we can see in our minds God’s holy arm. The things that Jesus did were really the things that God did. God’s hand and arm are very powerful and strong.
Singing is an activity that elicits great emotion. Our voices set to music can convey feelings of deep sadness as well as burning love. In the Easter season of joy, in celebration of Jesus' triumph over death, I want to break into song and praise the Lord. He is my personal Savior and he died for me. God loves ME.
ReplyDeleteThe flip side of my Abba Father's love for me is what we see in this Sunday's readings: the good news is not just for me. It's for EVERYONE. In the first reading from Acts, we learn that Peter and the other Jews were at first surprised that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out "even on the Gentiles." It must have been a somewhat humbling moment.
In an instant, Peter recognizes that God is bigger than any of our human differences. We are called to love one another, despite any disparities in our social class, education, etc. With voices in unison, could any sound be more pleasing to our Father, than His people praising His name together?
The Psalmist in Psalm 98 sings a new song unto the Lord because God has revealed to the nations His saving power. For us this is a song of joy and victory over death and evil because the Lord has made His salvation known to us humans through Jesus Christ's suffering, death and resurrection. God is victorious.
ReplyDeleteThat victory can be available for us as well if we remain in the love of God.
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In addition God sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Regardless of whether Jew or Gentile, we are marked by the gift of the Holy Spirit when we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. We clap our hands and sing together for joy as Christians for what Jesus has done for us.
The picture shown above well expresses we are as one to worship our Lord. The boy in the picture is a true worshiper, touched by the Holy Spirit.
I had a moment when I was touched by the Holy Spirit. I felt His mighty hands upon me. My entire body became warm. I felt the tears of joy, peace and His forgiveness. I was in His loving presence.
Whenever I miss His presence I start to worship God and call the Holy Spirit to be with me. He always descends upon me to refresh my soul. In this way my faith in God increases and my relationship with Him is strengthened. I realize that worshiping God is a very vital factor in my life.