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.
This Psalm is known as a
prayer in the evening of life.
The psalmist looks back,
recalls how he has tried
to remain faithful to God,
his life’s companion.
“You are my hope, Lord;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On you I depend since birth;
from my mother’s womb
you are my strength.”
In the difficult moments of
old age, the psalmist begs God
to come to his aid, and resolves
to praise God with all his might.
“My mouth shall proclaim your
just deeds, day after day your acts
of deliverance.”
The Psalm recalls for us the words
of the prophet Jeremiah, who says,
“Before I formed you in the womb
I dedicated you, a prophet
I appointed you.” Jeremiah draws
strength from the Lord; God makes him
a “fortified city, a pillar of iron.” (Jeremiah 1:5, 18)
And in the Psalm the writer pleads
with God, “Be my rock and refuge;
my stronghold to give me safety;
for you are my rock and fortress.”
In Jeremiah’s struggle against kings
and priests, he obtains assurances that
the Lord is with him to deliver him.
The Psalmist seeks the same guarantee
from God – “In your justice rescue and
deliver me.”
In today's Gospel, our Lord Jesus
was able to pass through the midst of the angry crowd that threatened him that day in Nazareth. (Luke 4:30)
Our psalmist too is threatened
by an adversary and petitions God,
“My God, rescue me from the power
of the wicked, from the clutches of the
evil and violent.”
And for us too, the source of our
ability to weather those spiritual trials
that we face in our own lives comes
from God our Father. His works are mighty,
and His justice is available for the asking,
“I will speak of the mighty works of the Lord;
O God, I will tell of your singular justice.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist says that from his mother's womb God was his strength. Describe how you as a child of God derive strength and hope from the Lord.
2. The psalmist cries out to God to rescue him 'from the hand of the wicked, from the clutches of the evil and violent.' Speak of how you have been
delivered by the Lord from the clutches of the evil one.
“Let the words of my mouth meet with your favor, O Lord.”
Where does the power come from to keep us on track, to speak the right words, think the right thoughts?
It comes from the Lord, our rock and redeemer. And how does it come to us? It comes through the Word, the inspired Word of God.
It is through the Word that we know His commandments, and through this Psalm that we know His law is a source
of refreshment, a source of joy. When we follow the Lord’s commands, there is a joy that is stirred up in our hearts.“The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.”
His statutes do not bind us, they set us free. As in the days of Ezra, the reading of the law should not make us sad, but be a source of rejoicing. (Nehemiah 8:9-10)
If we are to imitate the divine life,everything we need to know is found in God’s law. The Word is the source of wisdom; it is where power is found.And it is where the statutes of God are spelled out.
The Lord's statutes serve as our instruction manual for life. But they are not just a dry set of rules that we cannot hope to follow; God's commandments refresh our souls.
The Word and the statutes endure forever. They are refreshing to the soul.
They enlighten the eye.
And they bring much reward.
As Christ says in today's Gospel,
scripture is fulfilled in our hearing. (Luke 4:21)
Give us ears to hear!
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm response this
Sunday is 'Your words, Lord,
are Spirit and life.' In
what way are you impacted along
your faith journey by the words of our Lord?
2. Speak of how the
Lord's commandments are useful in
carrying out the prayer of our psalmist, 'Let the
words of my
mouth and the thoughts of my
heart find favor before you.'
“Proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations!”
Today's psalm is a song of Israel, the chosen people, brought back from exile. Their joy and praise is understandable. The prophet Isaiah says that God calls them, “His Delight, His Espoused.” (Isaiah 62:4) No wonder they want to “Sing to the Lord a new song,” and tell of God’s glory and His marvelous deeds.
We are all summoned to adoration of our sovereign God. We are called to give Him 'glory and praise,' as our psalmist says. And we are called to bring gifts as we enter His courts.
But no matter how precious our own offerings may be, they are no match for the gifts of the Spirit that each of us receives, and which St Paul speaks about in this Sunday's second reading. Each of us receives these spiritual gifts individually, and they are given through the Spirit to us for 'some benefit.' (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
In this Sunday's Gospel our Lord Jesus uses His marvelous gifts to turn water into wine at the wedding in Cana and so reveals His glory. (John 2:1-11)
Even today the Lord provides real food and real drink for us, in the Eucharist. What better nourishment could there be in our lives? As the psalm says, we are called to be grateful and, “Give to the Lord the glory due His name,” to bow down to the Lord, and to tremble before Him.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist encourages us to, 'Sing to the Lord a new
song."
What is it about your faith that makes you want to sing praise
to the Lord?
2. The Psalm urges us to, 'Proclaim His marvelous deeds to all
the nations.' How will you go about proclaiming the Gospel to
those around you in your family and your community?
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.”
God's 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.” (Gospel, Luke 3:22)
What happened at the Jordan River that day was to fulfill what God said to the prophet Isaiah – “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit.” (Isaiah 42:1)
The baptism of our Lord may have happened over 2000 years ago, but on that day God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power, the power to serve the faithful (people like us), and to do battle on our behalf with the devil. (Acts 10:38)
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). (Isaiah 42:6-7)
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?
Explain.
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.
