Psalm for Sunday, August 4, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 90:  3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17  (Read)

"Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain wisdom of heart."

 

The Psalm reminds us that man’s
days are numbered, and that
we should use our time wisely,
making our days and our life
count for something.  

And how do we do that?
We do it by being open to the
wisdom of God.  Just as Solomon
preferred the gift of wisdom over
material wealth, and concluded
that so much of what we do in the
world is vanity, we too see the
advantage of using our time wisely
by doing the Lord's will.  

Although we may never receive
the wisdom of Solomon, we can hope
for some ability to be detached from
worldly things, which can separate
us from God.

How do we do this?  Where does
the ability come from, to cut through
all our present day concerns?
It is obtained by listening to St Paul 

in this Sunday's second reading,
who tells us to put to death the parts
of us that are earthly, take off the old
self and put on the new self.  

(Colossians 3: 5-10) 

And Jesus tells us in the Gospel that
we need to store up treasure in heaven
and be rich in what matters to God.
If we can get that right, we may receive
the favor of the Lord and be counted
among his sheep.  As the Psalm says,
“May the favor of the Lord our God
be ours.”

How much better will our lives be
if we may sing for joy, as the psalmist
says, and be filled at daybreak
with the love of the Lord.
And having received God’s favor,
we will want to be His servants
and do His work.  We will become
laborers in the field where the
harvest is plentiful.  And as the
Psalm says, “The work of our hands
will prosper.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Psalm Response this Sunday is, "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts."  How would you apply these words to the Psalm's message about using our time wisely?

2.  The Psalm ends with a petition that the Lord will "prosper the work of our hands!"  How do we be sure that our work will gain the favor of the Lord? 

Psalm for Sunday, July 28, 2019

Reflections 

Psalm 138:  1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8

 

Our psalmist David composed 

this prayer of a grateful heart.
“I will give thanks to you,
O Lord, with all my heart.”

David is grateful because his
petitions are answered by the Lord.
“For you have heard the words
of my mouth.”   The Lord's answers
to our psalmist's prayers have come
at a critical time,  a time when David
is seeking to build up his strength.

David speaks of a divine rescue --
“When I cried out, you answered;
you strengthened my spirit.”
Perhaps we’re all in need of a spiritual
rescue of the type David describes.

And it isn’t because of any of the
psalmist’s virtues that he obtains salvation.
It is a result of God’s loving fidelity.
“Lord, your love is eternal.”

Our Savior Jesus conveys a similar
teaching in this Sunday's Gospel,
“Ask and you will receive; seek and
you will find; knock and the door
will be opened to you.  For everyone
who asks, receives; and the one
who seeks, finds.”

Our God does not forsake the work
of His hands, though who has given
the Lord anything that he may be repaid?

Our psalmist reminds us—all God
has to do is stretch out his right hand,
and we will be saved.  “You stretch out
your hand, your right hand saves me.”

Unworthy as we are, and though the
Lord is exalted, He watches over us in
our lowly state.   And thanks be to God,
His kindness endures forever.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist affirms that God answers our needs, "Lord, on the day 

I called for help, you answered me."   Give an example of how your prayers have been answered at a critical time in your life.

2.  The Psalm reminds us that although the Lord is exalted, He sees the lowly.   What is it that gives you confidence that the Lord will not forsake you, even though He is exalted and you are among the lowly ones.

Psalm for Sunday, July 21, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 15:  2-3, 3-4, 5   (Read)

This Psalm of David begins with 
a familiar question,
“Who may dwell on your holy mountain?”

Fortunately for us, David gives us answers 
that serve as a lesson in how today's Christians 
are to behave if we are to dwell in God's Kingdom.

David says, “He who does justice will live in the
presence of the Lord.”  For us this can mean
whoever has a right relationship with the Lord
will inherit God's Kingdom.  Whoever loves God
with all his heart and loves his neighbor as himself
is not far from the Kingdom of heaven, as Jesus
affirms to the scribe in Mark 12:34.

Jesus was born to bring us the Kingdom and to personify
the Kingdom of God to us humans.  If we follow what
our psalmist prescribes, we will find that we are able
to live now in the Kingdom of God, here on earth.

David describes what separates us from God and
His Kingdom.  Our separation is caused by the
sinful things that we do and the harmful habits
that we acquire willfully.  This separation can only
be healed through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus  shows us that the Kingdom of God is 
at hand and can for us become a present reality,
inside of us and within our community.  Just as 
David did, we hunger for God's presence; we long
for His Kingdom. 

Fortunately for us, through the Eucharist we are able to
receive Jesus physically and spiritually and to live in
His Body as He lives in ours.   And having Jesus remain
in us as we remain in Him, we are able to make the 
Kingdom present to our family and our community.  

Our God intended for us to have a share in His own
divinity.  All we have to do is accept God's Son into 
our hearts and follow His teachings.  Then you 
and I will be not far from the Kingdom. We will have   
Jesus in our midst, and we will be able
to dwell on God's holy mountain.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist David asks us once again, "Who may dwell on God's holy mountain?"  Drawing from the verses of the Psalm, speak of what you are doing to draw closer to God.

2.  The Psalm says that one who thinks the truth in his heart will live in the presence of the Lord.  Describe how you are making sure you have a pure heart so as to gain favor with God.

Psalm for Sunday, July 14, 2019

Reflections      
                        
Psalm 19: 8, 9, 10, 11   (Read)

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul."   

This Sunday's Psalm celebrates the law of the Lord, first given to the Israelites when Moses received God's commandments on Mt Sinai. (Exodus 20:1-17)

More than a set of rules that we cannot hope to follow, God’s commandments give us wisdom; they ‘rejoice the heart.'  They are 'more desirable than gold, sweeter also than honey.’

Our psalmist David shows us that obeying 
the law does not prevent us from being happy.   
The Psalm speaks to us of the joy  that is 
stirred up in our hearts when we follow 
the Lord’s commands.  “The precepts of the 
Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.”

Obeying the law brings much reward.  If we are to imitate
the divine life, everything we need to know is found 
in God’s law.

We may think of God's statutes as something intended 
to control us or restrict us, but as our psalmist explains, 
the law of the Lord is in fact something to be desired, 
because the law gives us wisdom and provides us 
with something we can trust.

God's statutes endure forever.  It is through the verses 
of this Psalm that we know His law is a source of spiritual 
refreshment, a source of joy.  His statutes do not bind us;
they set us free.

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist says that the ordinances of the Lord are 'sweeter than honey.'   
How can it be that, instead of being harsh, the commandments of the Lord 
are sweet to the taste?  Explain.

2.  Our psalmist says that the commandments of the Lord are a source of joy --
they 'rejoice the heart.'   Tell about how obeying the commandments can be a 
source of joy in your life.

Psalm for Sunday, July 7, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 66:  1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20  (Read) 

"Come and see the works of God."

The Psalm celebrates the awesome power of God, manifest in 'His tremendous deeds among the children 
of Adam.'  Our psalmist 
recalls the dividing of the 
Red Sea, which delivered 
Israel from the Egyptians, 
through the favor of God.  
That same awesome 
power that split the Red 
Sea became available 
to the early apostles of 
the Church, as they went about 
healing and doing signs and wonders.
 
Where does the power come from to heal
the lame  and drive out unclean spirits?  
It comes from the Holy Spirit, who empowers 
each of us to become a healing force within 
our family and our community.  
No wonder those early believers were eager 
to go forth into the towns and become 
laborers for His harvest and to rejoice 
because their names were written in heaven.

We too cannot help but sing praise to God when
we feel His presence within us.  We proclaim
His glorious praise, and we on earth worship Him.
We want all to know what God has done for us,
as the Psalm says, so we 'cry out to God with joy.'
 
Amen
 

Discussion Questions for Reflection 
 
1.  Our Psalmist invites us to, "Come and see the works of God."  
Give an example of the awesome power of God in your life.

2.  The verses of the psalm say, "Blessed be God who refused me not."   
Tell of how the Lord has answered your plea and your prayer.