Psalm for Sunday, January 3, 2021

Reflections 

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

“Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

 

The Psalm is a prayer for our newborn King,

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 the King's days. 

But the Messiah is among us, to do more than 

bless us materially; the Savior has come to make

our burdens easy, to share our afflictions. 

“The lives of the poor He shall save.”

We see the light, just as the prophet Isaiah said 

we would.  (Isaiah 60:1) 

In the Psalm, the mystery is revealed 

to us, poor in spirit though we are:

“He rescues the poor when they cry out [as we do],

the afflicted 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 paying homage to our newborn King, and 

join with our psalmist in singing,

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

Amen

 
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 27, 2020

Reflections

Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5  (Read)

“Blessed are those who fear 

the Lord and walk in His ways.”

Our psalmist tells us that a man 
who has a right relationship with 
the Lord will also obtain a right 
relationship with his wife and his 
family.  If we have a right 

relationship with the Lord, we will 
know how to treat our wives and 
our children, and in turn, we will 
discover how blessed we are in 
our home and by the presence of 

our family. “Just so will the man 
be blessed who fears the Lord.”

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.

Having been so favored by God, we 
understand why, 'A man shall leave his 
father and mother and cleave to his wife.' 
God made them one flesh, and, 'What God 
has joined, no human being may separate.'

If we fear the Lord and walk in His ways, 
we will receive the blessings of our labor, 
prosper in a material way, and grow old 
gracefully in the company of our family.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm tells us how to gain God's favor so that our family life will 
be blessed.  What does it mean to you to fear the Lord and walk in His ways?

2.  We learn from our psalmist how to behave toward our wife and our children.  
A right relationship with our family is obtained by having a right relationship 
with our Lord.  Explain how you are putting this teaching into practice.

Psalm for Sunday, December 20, 2020

Reflections

 

Psalm 89:  2-3, 4-5, 27-29   (Read)

" I have made a covenant with my chosen one."

This Sunday's Psalm sings about God’s  
promises to Israel and God's covenant 
with David.  "I have made a covenant 
with my chosen one."  That same divine 
selection is celebrated in Sunday's  
first reading that tells the story of how David was taken from pasturing sheep to become Israel’s commander .  (2 Samuel 7:8)

Our psalmist quotes the Lord, “I have sworn to 
David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”

And how does this young shepherd boy rise to 
greatness in Israel? He succeeds because he has 
found favor with God, and God will be the source of his 
strength.  This is the same divine strength that St Paul 
tells us is available to each of us, if we believe and 
have faith. (Romans 16:25)

But it isn’t a one way street with the Lord. David is 
to show us that we must give glory to God.  He cries out,
“You are my Father, my God, the Rock, my Savior.”

Mary also finds favor with God and is anointed to be 
the Blessed Mother of our Lord Jesus.  She too responds
by giving glory to God in this week’s Gospel.  (Luke 1:38)

The Lord’s covenant with David stands firm, and it is 
through God’s promise to David that the Messiah is 
born of Mary. “Forever, I will maintain my love for David;
my covenant with him stands firm.” That promise 
to David is fulfilled in the birth of our Savior and for that 
we too must give glory to God.

Amen
 

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  David is to call out to the Lord, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.' 
We too are inspired to cry out to God in a similar way. Tell of the times when you 
have felt like crying out to God in worship and praise.

2.  Our Psalm response is, 'Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.'  One reason to sing of the Lord's goodness is because His promises are trustworthy.  Describe how you have relied on the promises of the Lord in your journey.

Psalm for Sunday, December 13, 2020

Reflections  

Luke 1:  46-48, 49-50, 53-54   (Read)

“My soul rejoices in my God.”  

The Blessed Mother Mary speaks this hymn 
of praise to God in the words of a humble servant,
“For He has looked upon his lowly handmaid.”

Despite her position as God’s chosen instrument, 
Mary does not exalt herself; she exalts God 
the Father as she professes her Magnificat.
Her soul “proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”
She glorifies the Lord, “The Almighty has done
great things for me.”  Mary is truly God’s anointed
one, and the spirit of the Lord is upon her. 
She “rejoices heartily in the Lord.” 

We too are God’s lowly creatures, and Mary inspires
us to expect the Lord will do great things for us as well.
We too should expect to be singled out by the Lord 
to do His work.  This is our food (to do the Lord’s work)
just as it was for Jesus the Son.

Mary testifies to the light, as does John the Baptist in 
our Gospel reading.  (John 1: 8)
Because of Mary’s faith, the Old Testament 
promises are fulfilled, and the tide is turned. 
As the Blessed Mother says, the hungry (that is who we are) 
are filled with good things. 

Amen 


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.    Mary declares that God has filled the 'hungry' with good things.  
Do you consider yourself one of the hungry ones? And if so, in what way 
has the Lord fed you with good things?

2.   Our Blessed Mother says, "The Almighty has done great things for me."  
In what way do you also believe that God has done great things for you, 
and how have you responded?