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.
In this psalm our psalmist affirms, “The Lord keeps faith forever.”
ReplyDeleteThe afflicted and oppressed will be set free and the hungry will receive real food because God is the hope and help of the needy. He watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow. And He gives sight to the blind and most of all he lifts up those who are bowed down.
Only God can deliver the promise by sending us the Messiah who will save us.
Advent is our time to be joyful. Praise to the Lord; he is faithful and keeps faith forever.
He will satisfy my hungry heart that wants to know him clearly and more closely whenever I bow down to him with a humble and contrite heart.
God fills me with his spirit and with love and grace so that I can have an intimate relationship with him more than ever.
And whenever I am called to his supper at the celebration of the Eucharist
I have a chance to take the real food which is the body and blood of Christ.
Spiritually I will be nourished by taking the body and blood of Christ which is real spiritual food for me. Praise the Lord, O my soul !