Reflections

Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5 (Read)

“We will go up to the house of the Lord.”

The Psalm is about a pilgrimage to the holy
city of Jerusalem. “Let us go to the house
of the Lord.” And for us it may also be about
a spiritual journey that we must embark
upon if we are to enter the Lord’s kingdom
and be present to the King of Kings.

For us the way is clear – we have only to

follow God’s beloved son, our Savior.

For just as God chose David to be the
shepherd for his chosen people (2 Samuel 5:2),
so God chose his son Jesus to lead us to
redemption. And as St Paul says, the Father

saw to it that we would be transferred to the
kingdom of his beloved Son. (Colossians 1:13,14)

The gate is narrow, but as the psalmist says,
“And now our feet are standing within your
gates, Jerusalem.” Now we too have a share
in Christ’s inheritance.

And what draws us to make the journey
through the narrow gate? We seek to be with
the Lord, just as did St Dismas, the thief who
was crucified with Jesus on Calvary.
Sunday’s Gospel quotes St Dismas
when he says, “Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom.”
The Lord replies, “Today you will be with me
in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

This is our goal, too – to complete that pilgrimage
the psalmist speaks about, to reach that
holy city where are the “thrones of justice, the
thrones of the house of David.”

Jerusalem in the Psalm symbolizes for us
the end of our journey, being present with the Lord.
This is what God has planned for his people.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1. Our Psalm speaks of a journey to the Lord's kingdom. What progress are you
making along the way on your own journey to the Lord's holy city?

2. The psalmist mentions that he has set foot within the gates of Jerusalem.
Describe your decision to walk the walk and go through the narrow gate that leads
to redemption and a share in our Lord's inheritance.

2 comments:

Beth11:51 PM
I am eager to enter the Lord’s Kingdom, I am on my spiritual journey to walk the walk to where God is present in the house of the Lord - Jerusalem.
I praise the name of God according to the statutes given to Israel. I worship Him.

There the thrones for judgement stand, where my feet are standing in his gates. I follow our Savior, Jesus who leads me to redemption. There will be peace and security within me. God will draw me to make my journey complete through the narrow gate. For that I worship and praise Him along with God’s people because He is merciful and full of love.

I lift up my prayer, having interceded for those in need. Accordingly I enjoy God’s presence. I go up to the house of the Lord to worship. That is my delight. I find peace with others through faith in God. And I also find real peace which the world can not provide.

According to our Psalmist, in order to share in our Lord’s inheritance I am willing to step into the presence of God and seek his prosperity, justice and protection. Most of all I seek peace with God at the end of my journey, wishing that He will invite me to come into his kingdom. I hear Him say, "Today you will be with me in Paradise."

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J Kim12:25 PM
I sure hope I am walking toward Jerusalem, which means “City of Peace.” I must say the road is convoluted, full of detours and unforeseen dangers. I can be on the expressway toward heaven, feeling joyful, and then be sideswiped by my daughter having a terrible day. Her negativity might rub off on me, turning my direction down the wrong path. I am reminded here of traffic signs that say Do Not Enter or Wrong Way. In my efforts to guide my adult children down the correct and easiest path, I am susceptible to trying a different way. A new thought. A doubt that Jesus loves me. A sinking feeling that life is just too hard.

I need reminders along the way. Powerful passages that speak to me... or preachers and priests who have more knowledge, who are more mature in their faith than I am.

I usually don’t like social media, but praise God for when it’s used for good! After a tough day, my daughter shared with me this one message from TV evangelist Joel Osteen’s page: Against a plain blue background, the big white words read:

God Uses
Disappointments,
Delays, Setbacks,
Detours to Move us
INTO OUR PURPOSE.

How brilliant are these simple words... and how helpful the image. God is so big and mighty that even if I think I am on a wrong road or detour, He can still create a shortcut for me to either get back on track or to lead me to something even greater, along the way.

So, I am journeying toward the Lord’s holy city but I rest assured that my path will be different from others. And God is not only okay with it, He is the one helping me to forge a way toward heavenly peace.
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Studying the Psalms

The Psalms are a powerful part of the Mass and are often overlooked in Catholic Bible studies. I believe the Psalms should be studied in relation to the Gospel and the other scripture readings of the Mass, and we should attempt to see how the Psalms tie in to the teaching of the day.

The Psalms, although written thousands of years ago and well before the time of Christ, are alive, and speak powerfully to each of us. These reflections that appear in these pages talk of how we apply the verses of the Psalms to our everyday life and how the Psalms can inspire us, convict us, teach us, and strengthen our faith.

About Barry Lamont

As an adult convert, Barry was baptized nearly 40 years ago in Boston, along with his wife and his two daughters.
His eyes were opened, and he recognized Jesus as the way to his salvation and as the way to ensure the spiritual well being
of his wife and his children. He is now a daily communicant.

Barry realizes there is a spiritual battle going on all around him, and he needs all the weapons that his faith provides.
Scripture says the sword of the spirit is the Word of God.
Barry believes the Word is a powerful instrument of God that
can purify and strengthen him, and guide him.

Following his retirement some ten years ago, Barry began to study the Sunday readings as a member of the Bread of Life Bible Study. He was inspired to celebrate the Psalms as a way of doing the Lord's work. Armed with the power of the Word, Barry believes he is better equipped to do the will of the Lord, who speaks to us through the verses of the Psalms. The Bible says, “It was I who chose you.” Barry now has a job from which he will not be retiring.