Psalm for Sunday, April 8, 2018

Reflections

Psalm 118:  2-4, 13-15, 22-24   (Read)

“By the Lord has this been done;

it is wonderful in our eyes.”

Once again we visit this powerful 
psalm of praise and thanksgiving. 

This time the verses stress the 
enduring love that God has for us –

so much so that despite the part 

we played in crucifying his Son, 

God went ahead and carried out 
His plan to save us.  Jesus’ risen 
presence among us is living proof 
of God’s enduring love.

“God’s love endures forever.”

We may be 'hard pressed and 
falling,'  but the Lord comes to 
our help. As the psalmist says, 
the Lord is our strength.  He is 
present to those of us who are

in need of healing,  just as He 
was in those early days of the 
church described by St Luke in 
this Sunday's first reading (Acts 4:33), 

and in Sunday's Gospel  (John 20:19-23)

We may not have the awesome 
experience that St Thomas had when 
he physically put  his hand into the 
Lord’s side and his fingers into the 
nail marks on Jesus' hand, 

but our Savior is with us.  

“The Lord has become my savior.”

We are victorious over death.

The Lord’s deliverance is cause 
for joy.  Just when we were down, 
the Lord raises us up.

“I was hard pressed and falling,

but the Lord came to my help.”

“The joyful shout of victory is heard.”

We are on firm ground after all – 

Christ has become our cornerstone, 

as our psalmist reminds us.

Christ has become a source of strength 
for us, despite His apparent weakness 
that day on the cross,

when He died a shameful death.   

Only the Lord could have done this 
remarkable thing:

“By the Lord has this been done; 

it is wonderful in our eyes.”

This is cause for rejoicing --

“This is the day the Lord has made.”

Along with the disciples and the early 
church, “Let us be glad and rejoice in it.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection 

1.  Our psalmist praises the Lord because the stone that was rejected has 
become our cornerstone.  Why do you think God would permit his Son to 
undergo a shameful death in order to make Jesus the cornerstone of our faith?

2.  Our psalm begins by stressing over and over that the mercy of God endures 
forever, and this Sunday's Response also says, 'His love is everlasting.'  Describe how these verses strengthen your faith and inspire you to trust in the Lord.