Psalm for Sunday, December 31, 2017

Reflections

Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5  (Read)

“Blessed are those who fear

the Lord and walk in His ways.”

Our psalmist tells us that a man 
who has a right relationship with 
the Lord will also obtain a right 
relationship with his wife and his 
family.  If we have a right

relationship with the Lord, we will 
know how to treat our wives and 
our children, and in turn, we will 
discover how blessed we are in 
our home and by the presence of

our family. “Just so will the man 
be blessed who fears the Lord.”

And if a man walks with the Lord, 
this will be reflected in the way he 
loves his wife.  Because if a man 
cherishes his wife, as ‘flesh of his 
flesh’ and ‘bone of his bones,’ 
he nourishes his relationship with 
her, as Christ nourishes the Church.

And the man’s reward is that his wife 
will be like a ‘fruitful vine’ within his 
house. This is how a man is blessed 
who fears the Lord.

Having been so favored by God, we 
understand why, 'A man shall leave his 
father and mother and cleave to his wife.' 
God made them one flesh, and, 'What God 
has joined, no human being may separate.'

If we fear the Lord and walk in His ways, 
we will receive the blessings of our labor, 
prosper in a material way, and grow old 
gracefully in the company of our family.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm tells us how to gain God's favor so that our family life will 
be blessed.  What does it mean to you to fear the Lord and walk in His ways?

2.  We learn from our psalmist how to behave toward our wife and our children.  
A right relationship with our family is obtained by having a right relationship 
with our Lord.  Explain how you are putting this teaching into practice.

Psalm for Sunday, December 24, 2017

Reflections

Psalm 89:  2-3, 4-5, 27, 29   (Read)

"The promises of the Lord 
I will sing forever."

This Sunday's Psalm 
sings about God’s 
promises to Israel 

and God's covenant 
with David.  

“I have made a covenant 
with my chosen one.”

That same divine selection 
is celebrated in Sunday's 
first reading that tells the story 

of how David was taken from 
pasturing sheep to become 
Israel’s commander. (2 Samuel 7:8)

Our psalmist quotes the Lord, 

“I have sworn to David my servant:

Forever will I confirm your posterity

and establish your throne for all 
generations.”

And how does this young shepherd boy 

rise to greatness in Israel?  He succeeds 
because he has found favor with God,

and God will be the source of his strength.  

This is the same divine strength that St Paul 

tells us is available to each of us, 

if we believe and have faith.  (Romans 16:25)

But it isn’t a one way street with the Lord.

David is to show us that we must give glory 
to God.  He cries out, “You are my Father, 
my God, the Rock, my Savior.”

Our Mother Mary also finds favor with God 

and is anointed to be the Blessed Mother 
of our Lord Jesus.  She too responds by 
giving glory to God in this week’s 
Gospel.  (Luke 1:38)

The Lord’s covenant with David stands firm, 

and it is through God’s promise to David 

that the Messiah is born of Mary.

“Forever, I will maintain my love for [David];

my covenant with him stands firm.”

That promise to David is fulfilled 

in the birth of our Savior, and for that 
we too must give glory to God.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  David is to call out to the Lord, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.'  We too are inspired to cry out to God in a similar way. Tell of the times when you 
have felt like crying out to God in worship and praise.

2. Our Psalm response is, 'Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.' 
One reason to sing of the Lord's goodness is because His promises are trustworthy. 
Describe how you have relied on the promises of the Lord in your faith journey.

Psalm for Sunday, December 17, 2017

Reflections

Luke 1:  46-48, 49-50, 53-54   (Read)

"The Almighty has done great things for me."

Mary, the mother of our Lord, speaks this 

psalm of praise (the Magnificat) to God 

in the words of a humble servant:

“For he has looked upon his handmaid’s 

lowliness.”

Despite her elevated position as God’s 

chosen instrument, Mary does not exalt 

herself – she exalts God the Father.

"My soul proclaims the greatness of 

the Lord.”  

She glorifies the Lord; 

“The Mighty One has done great things 

for me.”   

Mary is truly God’s anointed one, 

and the spirit of the Lord is upon her;  

"My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” 

And Mary inspires us;  

we too are God’s lowly creatures

and should expect the Lord 

to do great things for us as well. 

We too should expect to be singled out 

by the Lord to do His work.  

This is our food (to do the Lord’s work),

 just as it was for Jesus the Son.

Mary testifies to the light, as does 

John the  Baptist in Sunday's Gospel. 

(John 1: 6-9)

Because of Mary’s faith, 

the Old Testament promises are fulfilled, 

and the tide is turned.  As the Psalm says,

“The hungry [that is who we are] are filled 

with good things.” 

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Blessed Mother says, "The Almighty has done great things for me."

In what way do you also believe that God has done great things for you,

and how have you responded?

2.  Mary declares that God has filled the 'hungry' with good things. 

Do you consider yourself one of the hungry ones?  And if so, in what way 

has the Lord fed you with good things?

Psalm for Sunday, December 10, 2017

Reflections 

Psalm 85:  9-10-11-12, 13-14

"Near indeed is His salvation,

Glory dwelling in our land."

The Psalm is a prayer that 

God will restore peace and 

prosperity to the Israelites,

and by extension to us.   

We are told that our salvation 

is near,   “The Lord proclaims 

peace to his people, Glory 

dwelling in our Land.”   

The prophet  Isaiah tells us in 

Sunday’s first reading, our God 

declares, “Give comfort to my people.”  

And Zion is told, “Cry out at the top of 

your voice.”    (Isaiah 40: 1,6, 9)

For us Christians the Psalm is more 

than a cry; it is a promise of salvation.  

“Near indeed is salvation for those 

who fear Him."   St Peter too affirms 

that the Lord does not delay in 

keeping his promise. (2 Peter 3:9)

And what should we expect?

Nothing less than the coming 

of the Messiah himself.  Our psalmist 

affirms, “Truth will spring from the earth.”

For us this happens when the Messiah

is incarnate.

The psalmist prepares the way 

of the Lord, as does John the Baptist 

in this week’s Gospel.  As the psalm says, 

“Justice shall walk before him and prepare 

the way of His steps.”

Amen 


Discussion Questions for Reflections

1.   The Psalm says, "Truth shall spring out of the earth."  For us this verse foretells 

the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.  What else about the Psalm 

prepares us for the birth of our Savior?

2.   Our psalmist says, "I will hear what God proclaims."  For us, this verse can be 

seen as a reminder to study the Word of the Lord.  Explain how your study of the 

Word is strengthening your faith.

Psalm for Sunday, December 3, 2017

Reflections

Psalm 80:  2-3, 15-16, 18-19  (Read)

"Lord, let us see your face and we shall be saved."

The Psalm is a prayer to 
restore Israel, at a time 
when the chosen people 
were scattered and had 
withdrawn from God.

The Psalm is well adapted 
to our prayers during Advent.
We are a people scattered 
and separated from God,
and we await His coming.

Our psalmist makes a direct 
appeal to God to shepherd us,
“Shepherd of Israel listen; 
come to save us.”

“Turn again Lord, attend to this vine.”
The Lord tends to His vineyard.
He protects a shoot planted by His 
right hand, the son of man whom God 
himself made strong.  The coming of 
Christ is intended to revive us, restore 
our strength.  As the Psalm says,

“Then we will not withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon 
your name.”

We all need to be renewed from
time to time when our faith grows 
lukewarm, when our hearts harden 
due to the sins that separate us 
from God.  We, like the Israelites, 
need to beg for God’s mercy, 
to petition the Lord and seek His 
peace, the peace that will guard our 
hearts and minds, and restore us as 
His people.  We are after all,

the work of His hands. (Isaiah 64:7)

Where does our hope for revival 

come from?  It comes from our savior, 

sent by the Lord, our cornerstone.

In Him we are restored.  “Lord of 

hosts restore us; let your face shine 

upon us, that we may be saved.”

Amen 

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm says, 'Lord, make us turn to you.' Have you noticed at times when 
we stray off His path how the Lord tugs at each of us so that we return to His ways. 
Give an example from your own experience.

2.  Our psalmist is writing about the scattered people of Israel, but his words may 
apply to each of us in our separation from God.  In what way do the Psalm's verses 
encourage you as we begin the season of Advent?

Psalm for Sunday, November 26, 2017

Reflections


Psalm 23:  1-2, 2-3, 5-6   (Read)

"He guides me in right paths."

This well known psalm is a prayer 

that we offer to our Lord, the Good Shepherd.

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”   

We desire to be one of His sheep because He

looks after us and protects us and seeks us

out when we stray.  On the other hand we

do not want to be one of the goats that He

scatters.  Nor do we want to be on the wrong 

side of His judgment when He separates the 

sheep from the goats. 
(See Gospel, Matthew 25: 31-34)

In Sunday’s first reading the prophet Ezekiel tells us --

“The Lord God looks after his scattered sheep.” 

(Ezekiel 34:12)

He brings us back to the sheep-hold

where He will bind up our wounds.

Jesus speaks of himself as the Good Shepherd,

and we are drawn to Him, because He offers 
to lead us beside still waters, to grant us peace, 
and to restore us spiritually.

Our Lord Jesus, King of kings, stands by us 
in the victory over death. 

Our psalmist David says it this way, thousands 
of years before the time of Christ,

“You prepare a table before me in the 

presence of my enemies.” 

As the Psalm says, our Lord anoints us; 
He fills our cup so that it overflows.

We are ready to go forth on our own journey 

to discover who we are and how we are to treat others, 

especially the least among us. (Gospel, Matthew 25: 45)

In our journey we learn that, if we really want 
to have eternal life with our Lord, then we must 
become shepherds in our own right, here on earth.

Having been rescued by our Savior, 

and now counted among His obedient sheep, 

and ready to do His will, 

we are groomed to enter the kingdom 

and to sit at the table that God sets for us.

“Surely goodness and mercy 

shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm makes it clear we want to stay on the right side of our 
Good Shepherd; we want to be guided in right paths for His name's sake.  
Explain what you are doing so that you will be placed on His right, and not 
on His left with the goats.

2.  As His good sheep, we are being groomed to do His will.  Our psalmist 
says that our Lord anoints us with oil.  Having been anointed by the Lord, 
how are you carrying out His will within your family and your community?