Psalm for Sunday, January 5, 2020

Reflections

Psalm 72:  1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13   (Read)

"Lord, every nation on earth will adore you."

This Psalm is a prayer for our newborn King. 

Our psalmist speaks of a Messiah 

who will be like the “rain coming down 
upon the fields, like showers watering the earth.” 

Our psalmist prays that our newborn King 

will be anointed by God with divine judgment 

and empowered to rule the earth.

The prophet Isaiah in Sunday's first reading 
predicts that the light of the Lord 

will cause our hearts to overflow 

and the riches of the sea to be emptied out 
before us.  (Isaiah 60: 5)

Our psalmist also speaks of “abundance 

that will flourish in his days.” 

But the Messiah is among us 

to do more than bless us materially;

our Savior has come to make our burdens light, 

to share our afflictions.

We see the light, just as the prophet Isaiah 
said we would.

And in the Psalm's verses, the mystery 
is revealed to us, poor in spirit though 
we are:  “He rescues the poor when they 
cry out [as we do], the oppressed 
who have no one to help.”

This is what our Good Shepherd Jesus 
is sent to do, to shepherd God’s people. 

This is why we join the Magi in doing 
homage to our newborn King and join 
with our psalmist in singing,

"Blessed be the Lord; Blessed be His 
glorious name."

Amem


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist mentions 'afflicted ones' and 'the afflicted' in two 

of the Psalm's verses.  Are there times when you can identify yourself 

as an 'afflicted' one?   Tell what remedies are available to you that 

are mentioned in the Psalm.

2.  The Psalm says, 'Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.'   

Using the verses of the Psalm, explain why 'all kings' would want 

to pay homage to our Lord.

Psalm for Sunday, December 29, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 128:  1-2, 3, 4-5   (Read)

“Just so will they be blessed 

who fear the Lord.”

The Psalm affirms that 
blessings for we who
fear the Lord are to be
found in the recesses
of our homes, in the
ordinary joys of family.

The worthy wife is valued 
in the Psalm as a fruitful
vine because she blesses 

her home and family with 
the gift of her handiwork. 
She uses wisely what is 

given her as her way of 

obeying the Lord and 

holding Him in awe.  

And if a man walks with the Lord, 
this will be reflected in the way
he loves his wife.  Because if a man
cherishes his wife, as ‘flesh of his flesh’
and ‘bone of his bones,’ he nourishes
his relationship with her, as Christ
nourishes the Church.  And the man’s
reward is that his wife will be like
a ‘fruitful vine’ within his house. 
This is how a man is blessed who
fears the Lord.

As the Psalm says, if we fear the Lord 
and walk in His ways, we will receive
the blessings of our labor, prosper,
and grow old gracefully in the company
of our wife and children.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm assures us that we will be favored by the Lord, if we walk in 
His ways.  Speak of how you have been blessed by obeying the Lord and
holding Him in awe.

2.  Our psalmist tells of a worthy wife who uses wisely what she has been 
given.  Give an example of how you have used your God-given talent to serve
your family or your community.

Psalm for Sunday, December 22, 2019

Reflections                                                              
  
Psalm 24:  1-2, 3-4, 5-6   (Read)
 
“Who may go up the mountain of the Lord?
Who can stand in His holy place?”

The psalm is about a journey to a holy 
place.  It is a place where we will meet 
the Lord.  But we are asked, “Who can 
ascend the mountain of the Lord?  Who 
may stand in His holy place?”

During Advent we become aware that 
although we may not have to climb a holy 
mountain to meet the Lord, we must prepare 
to receive Him in our hearts.  In fact the Psalm
is guiding us to prepare ourselves from within, 
so that we are made ready to receive Him 
when He comes.

This is what our Advent time is about --
preparing ourselves to receive the Lord.
Just as St Paul in our 2nd reading was made ready
to receive “The grace of apostleship,” we too are
called to open our hearts to the Lord.
(Romans 1: 1-7)

What must we do?
We must cleanse our hearts.
The verses of the Psalm say, “The clean of hand
and pure of heart who has not given his soul to
useless things … will receive blessings from the Lord.”
We are all unworthy to be in the Lord's presence,
but at least we can cleanse ourselves through Confession,
and bathe in the Word.  That is how we show our love
for the Lord.

The Psalm calls for the coming of the king of glory,
just as the Gospel calls for the birth of Jesus. (Matthew 1: 18-24)
Who will enter His kingdom?  Our psalmist tells us
that those who love the Lord and those who seek
God's face will receive their reward from God our Savior.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection
 
1.  The Psalm Response asks us, "Let the Lord enter;
He is the king of glory."   How do you prepare yourself
during Advent so that the king of glory can enter your heart?

2.  Our psalmist speaks of a people that seeks the Lord,
that seeks the face of God.   Describe what you are doing
to seek out the Lord in your family and in your community.

Psalm for Sunday, December 15, 2019

Reflections
 
Psalm 146:  6-7, 8-9, 9-10   (Read)

“The Lord God keeps faith forever.”

The Psalm tells us that our long journey
of waiting and petitioning the Lord has
come to an end.  For us, then, the Psalm
is about the time of Advent, when the
promises of Isaiah and the other prophets 
are fulfilled. (Isaiah 35: 1-6, 10)
The coming of Jesus means for us that 
we who are afflicted will be set free; 
we who are hungry will receive real food.

Why do we trust in God and not princes of
this world?  Because, “The Lord God keeps
faith forever; He gives food to the hungry.”
Who among us is not hungry for a closer
relationship with The Lord?

And, “The Lord gives sight to the blind.”
Our eyes are opened when we enter the 
kingdom.  St James tells us that our patience 
will be rewarded.  (James 5: 7-10)
And the psalm confirms this, “The Lord raises 
up those who are bowed down.” 
We are raised up with the Lord Jesus.

Our psalmist sings about God's promises to the
oppressed, the hungry, the prisoner, the blind,
and those who are bowed down in one way or
another.  We could all benefit by being set free
in the Spirit or healed, so that we are no longer
blinded.   Then we too would no longer be lame,
but would be able to leap like a stag as the
prophet Isaiah promises. (Isaiah 35: 6)

And how are the promises of the psalmist fulfilled?
Where else but in the healing ministry of Jesus,
as the Gospel tells us.  (Matthew 11: 2-11)
Who else has the grace and the mercy to heal us?

Advent is our time to be joyful.  The coming of
the Messiah opens up a new time for us, a time
of promise.  We can celebrate with our psalmist,
“The Lord shall reign forever; your God, Zion,
through all generations!  Hallelujah!”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm's verses speak of a hopeful time when our God
will come and save us.  Tell of what it means to you to trust in
the Lord, to be set free, and to be raised up.

2.  Our psalmist promises that the Lord will give food to the
hungry.  Speak of your hunger for a closer relationship with the
Lord, and how you expect to receive real food this Advent.

Psalm for Sunday, December 8, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 72:  1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17  (Read)

“May He rule from sea to sea, and 
from the River to the ends of the earth.” 

Our psalmist (Solomon) speaks about a 
perfect king – a king who judges like God, 
governs His people with justice, His afflicted 
with right judgment.  The psalm's verses speak 
of a king that is to live as long as the sun endures,
like the moon through all generations.

The more we read the Psalm, the more it tells us
about the Messiah to come – “May all kings bow
before him, all nations serve him.” He is to fulfill
all the hopes placed upon Him by the prophets. 
And, “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,”
as Isaiah says beautifully in this Sunday's 1st reading. 

Only the expected Messiah can receive from God 
the wisdom and judgment to govern the people with
justice.  The Messiah brings great prosperity and 
rules the promised land from sea to sea.

The Psalm's verses recall for us our Savior's
promises, to rescue us when we cry out and save us 
when we are oppressed.  He lifts us up when we are
poor in spirit.

We see the light -- the Messiah is revealed to us Christians 
as Christ our King.  “May His name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun His name shall remain.”

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  This Sunday's Psalm speaks of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
who is to be endowed by God as a just King.   Describe how you will
make room for the Lord in your life so that He may govern how you conduct 
yourself this Advent season.

2.  Our psalmist writes about the profound peace that will flourish when the 
Messiah arrives.   Tell of how you will receive the Lord's peace during Advent 
and how this will affect your life.