Reflections
“Break into song, sing praise.”The Lord makes all thing new, and
we are a new creation, the work of
His hands. And so it is right that
we sing a 'new song' to the Lord,
who has done marvelous
things for us.
“The Lord has made His salvation
known; in the sight of the nations
He has revealed his justice.”
For us this can be about Jesus'
victory over death and sin, so that
we might live.
And how is salvation obtained?
How is the victory won?
It is won by God's Holy arm,
His son, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Victory is obtainable for us too,
if we keep the faith, give thanks to God,
and praise Him.
Our Psalm exclaims,
“All the ends of the earth have seen the
salvation of our God.”
This verse, and Sunday's 1st reading,
confirm that the gift of the Holy Spirit
is for us Gentiles too. (Acts 10:44-45)
For we are called to be baptized
in the name of Christ.
And as Jesus says in today's Gospel,
“It was not you who chose me,
but I who chose you.” (John 15:16)
We too are appointed by Him
to go forth and bear fruit,
to remain in the love of the Lord,
and to do His will.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm Response is, "The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power." How has the Lord shown his saving power to you personally?
2. Our Psalm speaks of singing a new song, of singing joyfully to the Lord,
and we are urged to break into song and sing praise. What is it about your faith and the Easter season that makes you want to sing praise to the Lord?
The gathered people of God are invited to sing a new song because the Lord “has done marvelous things.” Biblical religion is a historical religion. This means that God has been acting through major events in the lives of God’s people (God’s deliverance of his people from Egypt, God’s provision of his people in the wilderness while the nations looked on...)
ReplyDeleteGod has acted on our behalf, we are to respond with praise. Praise in this context is the affirmation, the announcement, that God is the world's first and final actor.
This psalm should lead us to reflect on just how we Easter people are to act in the light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, by praising the Lord, thanking Him for what He has done and always does for us.
Whether you're opera-trained or just like to sing in the shower, there is something about singing that lifts our spirits. It is one outlet of expression that God instilled in us, as He created us. The darling girl in the photograph above is too young to grasp intellectual concepts of faith -- but her spirit is moved nonetheless. We get the idea that the music and song around her captivates her, lifting up her heart as she basks in the Lord's goodness.
ReplyDeleteI might be older in age but I identify with that young girl -- feeling small and yet able to allow my heart to soar in His presence.
My children continue to challenge me as a parent; one is in college and one is in high school. Each has his/her ups and downs on a daily basis. It becomes too easy for me to get weighed down by their journeys on top of my own. One source of comfort for me is the truth that when we don't know our next step the Lord does. Our gifts are all from Him and we just need to find out how to use them. He is the one, not us, who orchestrates how our gifts will better the world. When we obey that little voice inside, we can reap rewards in heaven that we do not know about now.
Even when we experience a misstep, or listen to the wrong voice, the Lord is in charge of turning things around. Biblical examples abound with figures, who, for a season, appeared forgotten by God. But then we see that the Lord works all experiences for good and blesses those very people all the more, in the end. (Job, Joseph, even David... to name a few.)
Our Father is a God of turnarounds . Whatever happens in our desert times, is resurrected for a higher purpose of glory and victory in our Easter season. If the way is not yet clear, we can sing for joy in EXPECTANCY of His guidance and blessing. I sing with joyful hope that the Lord will guide my children in the way they should go and He is holding their hands with every step, when I cannot. Surely, these are reasons to sing His praises!
The Lord has shown his saving power personally to me during the Easter season. He reminds me that He has revealed his justice and that Jesus won victory over death and sin. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God!
ReplyDeleteIt causes me to thank Him and makes me want to give Him praise. He wants my heart to be pure before Him. And so I am able to sing the new songs with a thankful heart for what He has done for us.
Lately I’ve been giving Him superficial worship. But God wants me to give Him genuine worship with faith like the girl in the picture. As I look at her, she is praising God wholeheartedly, filled with the Holy Spirit. With his saving power God has revealed to me that I should learn from her. Like a child I have to be a new creation because the Lord makes all things new. I have to go forth and bear fruit and do His will because I was chosen and appointed by Him.
Whenever I think about being loved by God and having obtained Salvation by his mercy, I feel the urge to break into a new song, singing joyfully to
the Lord like the psalmist did. Shout for joy to the Lord for He comes to judge the world in righteousness!
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