Psalm for Sunday, September 5, 2021

Reflections

Psalm 146:  6-7, 8-9, 9-10  (Read)

“The Lord raises up those who were bowed down.”

 
Our psalmist is singing about God's 
promises to the oppressed, the hungry, 
the prisoner, the blind, and those of us 
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 foresees in this 
Sunday's 1st reading.  (Isaiah 35:5-6)

The Psalm is telling me that I really need 
to humble myself if I want to be raised up 
with Jesus.  That may be hard to do if it 
means I have to swallow my pride and put 
aside worldly concerns.   But it I truly want 
to be set free from the sins that bind me, 
then I need to repent and bow down before 
the Lord, accept my brokenness, and seek 
his grace.  Only then will I begin 
to have a right relationship with the Lord.

And where do I turn to be lifted up and made whole again?  
I turn to the Lord.  Where else are the promises of our God 
fulfilled but in the healing ministry of Jesus, as this Sunday's 
Gospel tells me.  (Mark 7:31-37)   Who else has the grace 
and the mercy to heal me?

Christ carries out the promises of the Psalm – He sets us 
captives free and gives sight to us so we can truly see. 
The Lord raises me up when I am down – He sustains me – 
with real food and drink.

So I can pray this Psalm, not only in honor of the heavenly Father,
but also in honor of Christ Jesus, whom God exalted.  
“The Lord shall reign forever, through all generations.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist says, "The Lord sets captives free."   In what ways are you captive, 
and how has the Lord set you free?

2.  The Psalm proclaims, "The Lord gives sight to the blind."  In what areas of your 
life were you not able to see things clearly, and give an example of how the Lord 
has enabled you to regain your sight.

Psalm for Sunday, August 29, 2021

Reflections

Psalm 15: 2-3, 3-4, 4-5  (Read)

“One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.”

 

Our psalmist David tells us how we may climb the 
holy mountain of God and live in the presence of the Lord. 
And in a similar way, in Sunday's first reading,
Moses tells the Israelites how to take possession
of the promised land. (Deuteronomy 4:1)

The way forward for the Israelites and for us is twofold --
love God and love neighbor.   If I truly love the Lord,
then my heart will not be far from Him, and I will keep 
His commandments.   If I love the Lord, He will remain
in me.  How else would I expect my heart to remain pure?   
When my heart is pure, I do no harm to my fellow man; 
and I think the truth in my heart.

St James tells us to be doers of the Word; we are to 
keep ourselves unstained by the world.  (James 1: 22, 27)
And Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that it all starts
from inside.  It is within our hearts that evil thoughts 
reside.  The things that come out from within are 
what defile us.  (Mark 7:15, 20-23)

So, if I am right with the Lord and my heart is close 
to Him, then I will not slander with my tongue,
nor take up a reproach against my neighbor.   
Nor will I do harm economically to my neighbor.
If I do these things, as our psalmist says, I shall 
never be disturbed, and I will live in the presence 
of the Lord.

Amen
 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.   Our psalmist says whoever thinks the truth in his heart will live in 
the presence of the Lord.   How do you go about preparing your heart 
so that you are able to receive the Lord?

2.  The verses of the Psalm remind us not to slander, nor to blame our 
neighbor, nor to harm our fellow man, nor to hurt him economically.   
Explain how you are motivated by your faith to become a doer of the Word.

Psalm for Sunday, August 22, 2021

Reflections

Psalm 34:  2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21   (Read)

“Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”

Once again we revisit this psalm of thanksgiving.  And this Sunday the Gospel challenges us to stop murmuring and stand up for our faith.

And the question is the same, “Do I truly believe
that Jesus is the living bread that came down
out of heaven and that whoever eats His flesh
and drinks His blood will remain in Him and
will live forever?”

Like Joshua, am I prepared to take a stand and
declare,  “As for me and my household we will
serve the Lord.”  Joshua commits himself and
his family to serve the Lord.  (Joshua 24:15)  
What better commitment would there be for me,
in our time?

Where would I go if I did not serve the Lord? 
To whom would I turn without my Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ?  I thirst for Jesus, and I would be parched
and dry without Him in my life.  I must stop murmuring
about how difficult it may be to accept His words
and declare that Jesus is truly the Holy One of God.
Who else would hear my cry, as our psalmist says,
or confront evildoers on my behalf ?

“Many are the troubles of the just, but the Lord delivers
them all.”   We are all afflicted.  Our Spirit may be
crushed (as the psalmist says), but “God watches over
all our bones.”

“When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all
their distress he rescues them.”  Who else would listen
to my cry?  If I cry out to the Lord, He will hear me and
rescue me from all distress.  Where else would I turn?

I have the Lord as my ally in my fight against the evil one.
And with Him on my side victory is certain.  “The Lord
confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them
from the earth.”

So the teaching is clear –  “Let His praise be ever in my mouth,
and let my soul glory in the Lord.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  If we truly serve the Lord, we can be confident that 'He will watch over
all our bones,' as the Psalmist says.  Explain how your faith has given you
peace and strength in the face of your afflictions.

2.  We are engaged in a spiritual battle with the evil one and his helpers,
but our Psalmist says that the Lord will confront evildoers and destroy them.
Tell of how you have been able to defeat evil with the Lord on your side.

Psalm for Sunday, August 15, 2021

Reflections

Psalm 45: 10, 11, 12, 16

"The queen stands at your right hand."

The Psalm is about the birth of our Savior.   Just as the woman in Sunday’s first reading is clothed with the sun, and arrayed with a crown of twelve stars, so Mary our Holy Queen is arrayed in gold and stands at the right hand of God.  

The verses of the Psalm describe how Mary is being prepared for the royal birth of the Messiah himself.   She will have a name that is renowned through all generations and nations shall praise her forever.    She is led in to the heavenly chamber with glad and joyous acclaim.  All glory is given to her as she enters.   She is told to forget her people and her father’s house that God himself might rejoice in her beauty.  

As in Sunday’s first reading Mary gives birth to a son destined to rule all the nations, a child who is caught up to God and his throne. (Revelations 12:5)   

Having taken his place seated at the right hand of God, now have salvation come, and authority is given to the Anointed One.   St Paul confirms our salvation and tells us in Sunday’s second reading that in Christ all shall be saved and brought to life. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

And in Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 1: 39-56), when Mary makes an ordinary visit 

to her cousin Elizabeth, the Holy Spirit inspires Elizabeth to proclaim that Mary 

is to be the mother of her Lord, and her own child leaps for joy at the coming 

of the Messiah.   Having been blessed by Elizabeth, Mary cries out her Magnificat and affirms that the Almighty has done great things for her.   She cannot keep from proclaiming the greatness of the Lord and she rejoices in God her Savior.   

Truly we are present at a Holy moment.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Discussion

1.  Do you see Mary as our Holy Queen, arrayed in gold?

How do you explain that an apparently ordinary young woman became 

the Mother of our Lord?

2.  Can you picture yourself as one of the train of bridesmaids 

who are being led into the palace of the king?  Explain.

Psalm for Sunday, August 8, 2021

Reflections

Psalm 34:  2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9   (Read)

“Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” 

What does Jesus tell us to do in this week’s Gospel? “Whoever eats this bread [my flesh] will live forever.” (John 6:51)  However difficult Jesus’ words may have been for the Jews to accept (or for us), the psalmist is right when he says, “Blessed the man who takes refuge in Him.”  

Where else would we turn when we are in distress?

The Psalm says, “When the afflicted man called out, 
the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him.”
Just as the Lord answered Elijah and delivered him 
from his despair (1 Kings 19:4-8), so He delivers us from 
whatever has bogged us down spiritually.

The psalmist prays, “My soul will glory in the Lord,
that the poor may hear and be glad.”  The word  poor 
is said to apply to one who depends completely on God
for his deliverance and his very life.  That’s where Elijah 
stood that day in the early stages of his long journey,
totally dependent on God for the strength to walk the 
walk that was planned for him.  (1 Kings 19:4-8).
And if the truth were to be known, that’s where we stand 
even today, when we are short of endurance
along our spiritual journey.

The psalmist recounts for us how he gained deliverance,
“I sought the Lord, who answered me, and delivered me 
from all my fears.”  Despite the anguish in the psalmist’s 
voice, there is also a powerful, joyful spirit – “Look to God 
that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not 
blush with shame.”

Where does our joy come from?  How do we obtain a 
joyful spirit?  It comes from repenting and returning to 
the Lord.  Only then can we be embraced by the Lord.
Having humbled ourselves before Him, confessed our
sins, He takes us back.

He watches for us each day, encouraging us.   
He reconciles us and restores us in a right relationship 
with the Father.  And He provides the inner strength and 
the nourishment we need to complete our own spiritual journey.
Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist tells us how to obtain a joyful spirit, "Look to the Lord 
that you may be radiant with joy."  Describe how the Lord has given you 
inner joy in the course of relieving you from your afflictions.

2.  The Psalm says that the angel of the Lord 'encamps' around those 
who fear Him and delivers them.  Speak of how your faith has been 
a source of strength and deliverance in the face of difficulty or persecution.