Reflections
Psalm 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9 (Read)
"Oh that today you would hear
his voice."
Knowing God's will is hard enough;
discernment is a gift from God.
But even if we are gifted enough to
be able to discern God 's will,
will we have the courage and
conviction to actually do His will?
In Sunday's first reading Ezekiel is enjoined
by the Lord to warn the wicked among
the house of Israel and try to turn them from
their ways. (Ezekiel 33: 7-9)
In the Gospel, too, Jesus instructs the disciples
how to deal with a brother who sins against
a disciple. (Matthew 18: 15-17)
Doing the will of God must have been difficult
even for the prophet Ezekiel.
How much more so is the will of God
a challenge for ordinary people like us?
Even the disciples must have been in awe
of what Jesus was commanding them to do.
Our spiritual history is full of occasions
where the faithful were known to have
hardened their hearts and refused to listen
to God's voice, though they had seen
His works, as our psalmist mentions.
But after all, He is our God, as the Psalm says,
and we are the people He shepherds.
Our job is to kneel before the Lord who
made us and to carry out His will the best
we can. And if we are careful to listen to
His voice, He will empower us to do His will,
just as Jesus empowered the disciples
to rise up to the challenge of the Great
Commission and to become ordinary men
performing extraordinary deeds.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist encourages us not to harden our hearts if we hear God's voice. Do you find it difficult sometimes to carry out God's will in your life even if you believe He is speaking to you? Give an example.
2. The Psalm reminds us that we are like sheep and the Lord is our shepherd. Are you willing to be just an ordinary sheep among His flock? If so, what does it mean to you to be shepherded by the Lord?
Whenever we come into God's presence, we must come with thanksgiving. The Lord is to be praised. How great is that God, who created the whole earth and all creatures, and who directs and disposes of all!
ReplyDeleteThe Lord Jesus, whom we are taught to praise, is a great God; the mighty God is one of his titles, and God over all, blessed for evermore. To him all power is given, both in heaven and earth. He is our God, and we should praise him. He is our Savior, and the Author of our blessedness. The gospel church is his flock, Christ is the great and good Shepherd of believers; he sought them when lost, and brought them to his fold.
Christ calls upon his people to hear his voice. We call him Master, or Lord; then we need to be his willing, obedient people. We hear the voice of his doctrine, of his law, and in both, of his Spirit. Christ's voice must be heard today. We need to always remember that this day of opportunity will not last always.