Reflections 
Psalm 96: 1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10 (Read)
“Awesome is He; give to the Lord the glory due His name!”
The Psalm is a message to Israel’s neighbors, and to the rest of the world, that there is one true God. “Tell God’s glory among the nations; among all peoples God's marvelous deeds."
The Israelites have returned from exile and have been brought back from near death as a people. The remnant has survived, and the Israelites have been delivered by the one and only God.
And so they sing a “new song,” celebrating the
“newness of God” that comes with the joy of
praising Him as sovereign. “Sing to the Lord a
new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands.”
As the Psalm says, we are all summoned to
adoration of our sovereign. We are called
to give Him glory and praise.
In the 1st reading the prophet Isaiah confirms
there is no other God besides Him. (Isaiah 45: 5)
The gods of other nations are mere idols, and they
all do nothing, says our psalmist. But our God made
the heavens; He is to be praised and feared.
And how do we praise Him?
How do we give the Lord the glory due His name?
We engage in works of faith; we undertake a labor
of love for Him, as St. Paul tells us in today's
2nd reading. (1 Thessalonians 1: 3)
All peoples are invited to recognize our God,
and pledge to obey Him. “Say among the nations,
“The Lord is King; the world will surely stand fast,
never to be shaken.”
And having acknowledged that God is sovereign,
how should we and all the nations behave?
The Gospel tells us how -- Jesus says,
“Repay to God what belongs to God.” (Matthew 22: 21)
And we understand our calling,
“Give to the Lord the glory due His name!”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm exhorts us to "Sing to the Lord a new song."
How does your song go when you sing praise to God? What
do you have to say to the Lord?
2. Our psalmist encourages us to "Give the Lord glory and honor."
We are called to give glory to God in the works of faith that we do.
Speak of how you give God the glory in what you do.
"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." The government depends on its citizens to follow laws and cooperate with maintaining the material welfare of the state. Therefore, we should pay taxes with honesty, and without grumbling.
ReplyDeleteIn giving to God what is God's, we should rightfully and joyfully give him praise! That is what He is due... for all of His goodness to us -- the undeserved and unmerited graces He pours on us everyday.
My song of praise thanks Him for keeping my entire extended family safe from COVID-19 and protected in His hands, even when injury comes. Last weekend, my son endured a severe corneal abrasion due to a contact lens complication; the ophthalmologist who treated him couldn't believe how large the abrasion stretched across his eye. For a few hours, we faced uncertainty over whether his visual acuity would be permanently affected. The enemy tried to whisper lies of fear -- would my precious baby lose sight in one of his eyes? My heart ached as my fiercely independent son became dependent on his family for a couple of days, unable to drive, unable to walk without help, unable to do anything without writhing in pain.
I kept remembering that God heals the blind and nothing is impossible for Him.
It took a few days, but my son's vision is almost back to normal and he is clearly on the road to a full recovery. I have a renewed energy to praise His name for His healing power and merciful heart.