Reflections
“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? All we have to do
is trust Him, and He will lead us back to the
right path --
“Make known to me your ways, Lord;
is trust Him, and He will lead us back to the
right path --
“Make known to me your ways, Lord;
teach me your paths.”
Our psalmist David humbly
offers up his sins to God his savior,
and waits for God’s guidance.
“The Lord guides the humble rightly,
and teaches the humble
His way.”
In Sunday's Gospel the early disciples
leave their nets and their families behind
leave their nets and their families behind
when Jesus calls out to them. (Mark 1:16-20)
Jesus had a plan for His disciples,
when He singled them out to serve Him.
God had a plan for Jonah as well;
His mission was to warn the people
of Nineveh to repent and turn to the Lord.
(Jonah 3: 1-5)
of Nineveh to repent and turn to the Lord.
(Jonah 3: 1-5)
St Paul in Sunday's second reading
has a similar message for all of us,
that time is running out and any day now
would be an acceptable day for us
would be an acceptable day for us
to focus on our own salvation.
(1 Corinthians 7: 29-31)
(1 Corinthians 7: 29-31)
The Lord is there to guide us,
as He was in the days of David,
our psalmist.
Whether it's through a Jonah
in our midst or a Saint Paul,
the message of the Lord is clear –
“Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
We may not be able to do this on our own,
but as our psalmist says,
“The Lord shows sinners the way.”
The Lord is talking to all of us here;
we are all sinners.
We are all able to benefit
from the healing power of Jesus.
And where does the power come from
to turn away from sin?
It comes from the Lord;
It is He who encourages us when
our tongues confess,
our tongues confess,
“Remember no more the sins of my youth;
remember me only in light of your love.”
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist petitions the Lord, 'Teach me your ways.'
How do you go about learning the ways of the Lord? Tell how
the verses of the Psalm help you understand the ways of the Lord.
2. Our Psalm says the Lord 'shows sinners the way.' Give an example
of how you have been guided by the Lord to turn away from sin and repent.
1. Our psalmist petitions the Lord, 'Teach me your ways.'
How do you go about learning the ways of the Lord? Tell how
the verses of the Psalm help you understand the ways of the Lord.
2. Our Psalm says the Lord 'shows sinners the way.' Give an example
of how you have been guided by the Lord to turn away from sin and repent.
I have a Jonah story. I even have a St. Paul story. I wish I had a disciple story, but I am nowhere near the likes of Jesus’ first followers, who willingly left their fishing nets to follow their Teacher. But David, our Psalmist, tells us it’s okay. He writes that because of the Lord's goodness, we sinners can always be taught, instructed, and led back onto the right path.
ReplyDeleteSometimes He sends His Spirit to convict our hearts to change. Sometimes He allows suffering so that in our desperation, we have nowhere else to turn, but to Him. (Talk about making clear the path.).
Recently, changes in the course of both of my children’s lives have brought our family together, on our knees. One child is embarking on a new college path, fraught with confusion over what to study. Another child is battling an injury that side-lined him from playing his favorite sport during a crucial season of high school. Why??
While none of us have the answers, we do know what we’re supposed to do. We’re not supposed to figure it out, but rather trust. Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
We don’t have to navigate the way. We simply hold onto God and see where He leads us, knowing that He only has the best plan in mind. Even when we say no, and occasionally take the wheel and get lost, He comes back to that driver’s seat whenever we make room for Him. How patient he is with us!