These reflections on the Psalms by Barry Lamont talk of how we apply the verses of the Psalms to our everyday life and how the Psalms can inspire us, convict us, teach us, and strengthen our faith.
“The Lord has done great things for us.”
This Sunday's Psalm speaks about the joyous return of Israel from exile and captivity. “The Lord has restored the captives of Zion.” As we hear in Sunday's 1st reading (Baruch 5:1), Jerusalem is to take off her robe of misery and to put on the splendor of God forever. Truly, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
But there is more -- as the Psalm says, the Lord has done great things for us
as well. What could be more wonderful
than what Christ does for us, in leading
us out of our spiritual captivity in a sinful
world, to a place of splendor where the
Father dwells. We are restored by the
Lord’s grace, and our spiritual dryness
is filled with the baptismal waters, like
the dry stream beds of the Negeb.
But we must do our part – the 'sowing
of tears' is a time of repentance for us.
It is just as John the Baptist proclaims
in the Gospel – we must be baptized in
repentance, for the forgiveness of our sins. (Luke 3:3)
And what is the sign of true repentance?
It is when one produces good fruit by
what we sow. As the Psalm says,
“Those who go forth weeping, carrying
sacks of seed, will return with cries of joy,
carrying their bundled sheaves.”
Finally the Psalm reminds us that the
truly great thing the Lord has done for us
is to send His only begotten Son to be by
our side. Jesus’ presence is a guarantee
of a spiritual harvest that leads to our
own salvation.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist reminds us, 'We are filled with joy,' because the Lord has done great things for us! Tell of how these
verses speak to you during this Advent season of the arrival of
our incarnate Lord.
2. The Psalm says, 'Those who sow in tears shall reap
rejoicing.' Describe how repentance has led to salvation in
your spiritual life.
“Good and upright is the Lord, who shows sinners the way.”
We are blessed to have a God who does not disregard us. On the contrary, He is a caring, compassionate God, willing to humble himself to share in our humanity, so that we might
share in his divinity. Who else would have such regard for sinners, for believers who disobey him?
The Lord is talking to all of us in these verses; we are all sinners. Jesus was criticized for consorting with sinners, but He replied that the sick (people like us) are the ones who need a physician. We are all able to benefit from the healing power of Jesus. As our
psalmist says, the Lord is compassionate
and loving. All we have to do is to humble ourselves before Him and keep His covenant.
“Make known to me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths.” We are told that if we follow
the Lord's way, we will be able to turn away from sin and avoid death. And how does the Lord show us the way? By sending us His son, who is the way, the truth, and the life!
We know that salvation is available to us through the coming of the Messiah. Our psalmist, David, celebrates the coming of Christ when he says, “You are God my savior; for you I wait all the day long.”
Our Lord shows us sinners the way.
It is He who encourages us when our
tongues confess –
“The Lord guides the humble rightly,
and teaches the humble His way.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm response this Sunday is, 'To you,
O Lord, I lift my soul.'
As we begin the season of
Advent, speak of how you are raised up
spiritually by the coming arrival of our
Lord.
2. Our psalmist petitions the Lord to
make known His ways and teach
us His paths.
Tell of how you have been shown direction by the Lord
along the path of life.
The Psalm celebrates God’s Kingdom,
in which the Lord reigns with majesty,
“gird about with strength.” God revealed His kingship when He created the world.
But it is during the end times that the
kingdom of God will be displayed in
all its glory. This is in keeping with
our readings this week, in preparation
for our celebration of the Solemnity of
Christ the King this Sunday.
The prophet Daniel in this Sunday's first reading speaks of the coming of the Son of Man during the end times. (Daniel 7:13-14)
Sunday's second reading (Revelation 1:5-6)
is more explicit and brings us into the picture. Christ’s blood frees us, and makes us into a kingdom, where we become priests for God the Father.
The kingdom is to be ruled under the Lord's decrees, which are firmly established, as the Psalm reminds us. But as Jesus says in the Gospel, His kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36)
His kingdom cannot be observed. But surely
it is among us, and most certainly, in our hearts.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist proclaims, "The Lord is king, robed with majesty, girded with might." Yet our Lord Jesus did not seek a kingdom belonging to this world. Where do you find the kingdom of the Lord? How do you reach our mighty Lord?
2. The Psalm says that the Lord's throne stands firm and is everlasting. In what way do you gain strength from this verse?
This psalm of David speaks to us
about a belief in an everlasting life
with God. “Lord, my allotted
portion and my cup, you have made
my destiny secure.”
The psalmist takes refuge in the Lord --
“With the Lord at my right hand,
I shall never be shaken.... My body,
too, abides in confidence.”
The distress that the prophet Daniel speaks about in Sunday's first reading (Daniel 12:1) is overcome by the assurance in the Psalm that the Lord will not abandon his people (us). “For you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor let your faithful servant see the pit.”
In addition, we can understand the last verses of the Psalm as a prophecy of the
glorious day when we will see God’s Son
seated at the right hand of the Father.
“You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.”
St Peter also uses the Psalm as a prophecy that Jesus would be raised up and would sit at the right hand of the Father. (Acts 2:25-28) For us these are encouraging words, with a promise that we too can look forward to being lifted up and spending the rest of our
days in the presence of the Lord.
The Lord promises, if we are his faithful
servants, that we will not have to see the pit. He will not abandon us. As David says, this is enough to make our hearts glad and our souls rejoice.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist says that he will not be shaken or
disturbed
so long as the Lord is with him at his right hand. Speak of
how
the Lord enables you to be strong, so that your faith cannot
be shaken.
2. The Psalm says that the Lord will show us the path to
life.
Explain why this verse gives you confidence that you, as a
believer, can look forward to an everlasting life with God.
“The Lord gives food to the hungry, sets captives free.”
This Sunday's Psalm sings of the promisesof the Lord. Just as Elijah promised the widow in this Sunday's first reading that she would not go hungry (1 Kings 17:16),
so does the Psalm promise that the Lord will sustain the widow andthe fatherless.
But the Lord’s promises go far beyond flour and oil. The Psalm contains encouraging words not only for poor widows, but for each of us as well.
God's promises are fulfilled in the person of Jesus,
who carries out the promises of the Psalm – He sets us captives free and gives sight to us so we can truly see. And Jesus sustains us -- with real food and drink.
“The Lord raises up those who were bowed down.” We are all bowed downbecause of our brokenness at one time or another. And where do we turnto be lifted up and made whole again?We turn to the Lord. Who else has the grace and the mercy to heal us?
Have we not been under pressure from the evil one
to commit sin? Have we not been held captive at one time or another by our sins? And do we not experience a hunger for the Lord and for a deeper faith?
That same power that gives sight to the blind and raises up those who are bowed down is available to lift us up away from whatever imprisons us. All it takes is to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior,
and open our hearts to Him.
So we can pray this Psalm, not only in honor of the heavenly Father, but also in honor of Christ, whom God exalted.And having done that, we can join with the psalmist and sing, “The Lord shall reign forever; our God, through all generations." Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist promises that the Lord will secure justicefor the oppressed and set captives free. In what ways haveyou been imprisoned, and how has the Lord set you free?
2. The Psalm says the Lord gives food to the hungry. Describe how the Lord has given you real food and drinkto satisfy your hunger for a closer relationship with Him.
