Psalm for Sunday, January 2, 2022

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 Saturday, January 1, 2022

Reflections

Psalm 67:  2-3, 5, 6, 8  (Read)

“May God bless us 
and may he let his face shine upon us.”

So much that God does for us 
is contained in this verse from the Psalm.
God gives us his grace through his son Jesus,
who is our Savior. 
God gives us material blessings – 
all our treasure and gifts are from him. 
Moreover, he gives us spiritual blessings as well;
these are called by St Paul the fruits of the spirit. 

We all want God’s blessings, as the Psalm says.
Since the time of Moses, 
God’s chosen people have reached out for God’s blessing.
The petition in the Psalm 
is rooted in the early books of scripture;
today’s 1st reading  (Nm 6 : 22-27) says,
“The Lord let his face shine upon you 
and be gracious to you.”

St Paul (2nd reading) confirms that God 
sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, 
so we could cry out “Abba, Father.” 
The psalm predicts that God’s saving power shall be known 
among all the nations (including ourselves). 
God conveys that same message 
to the Mother of our Lord in this week’s Gospel.
The shepherds from distant lands hear the news 
that our Savior is born; 
they return glorifying and praising God. 
The Psalm also guides people like us to shout for joy,
“May the peoples praise you, God; 
may all the peoples praise you!”

The Psalm calls for 
the way of the Lord to become
known upon earth among all the nations.
Indeed the Psalm predicts that 
God’s saving power shall be known 
among all the peoples. 
Thankfully, that includes us.

Amen


 Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm petitions God to 'let his face shine upon us.'
What does it mean to you, especially during this 
Octave of the Nativity, that God would let his face shine upon you?

2.  Our psalmist calls for God's salvation to be known 
among all the nations.   How would you relate this verse 
to the birth of our Savior?

Psalm for Sunday, December 26, 2021

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 19, 2021

Reflections

Psalm 80: 2-3, 15-16, 18-19   (Read) 

 "O Shepherd of Israel, hearken,
and come to save us."

This Psalm is a prayer to restore 
Israel, and by extension to restore us,
as a scattered people of God. 
The Psalm is well adapted to our 
prayer during Advent.  We are a people 
scattered and separated from God, and 
we await His coming; He alone can 
'make us turn to Him' and convert us.

 “Shepherd of Israel, lend an ear … come to save us.”

 
Our psalmist makes a direct appeal 
to God to shepherd us.  “Turn again 
Lord ... attend to this vine.”  Just as 
the Lord tends to His vineyard, He 
protects a shoot planted by His right 
hand.  The coming of Christ is intended 
to revive us, restore our strength.   
As the Psalm says, “Then we will not 
withdraw from you; revive us, and 
we will call on your name.”
 
Where does our hope for revival 
come from?  It comes from our Savior, 
sent by the Lord, our cornerstone.
In Him we are restored.   “Lord of 
hosts restore us; let your face shine 
upon us, that we may be saved.”
 
We all need to be renewed from 
time to time when our faith grows 
lukewarm, when our hearts harden 
due to the sins that separate us from 
God.   We, like the Israelites,  need 
to beg for God’s mercy, to petition 
the Lord and seek his peace, the peace 
that will guard our hearts and minds,
and restore us as His people.
 
Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection
 
1.  The Psalm says, 'Lord, make us turn to you ....'  
Have you noticed at times when we stray off His path
how the Lord tugs at each of us so that we return to His ways.  
Give an example from your own experience.
 
2.  Our psalmist is writing about the scattered people of Israel, 
but his words may apply to each of us in our separation from God. 
In what way are you inspired by the Psalm's verses to repent 
and seek renewal, especially during this season of Advent?

Psalm for Sunday, December 12, 2021

Reflections

Isaiah 12:  2-3, 4, 5-6   (Read)

“With joy you will draw water from 
the fountains of salvation.”

This is a Song of Thanksgiving, from the
prophet Isaiah, expressed in the language 
of the Psalms.  But the prophet is also 
speaking about salvation -- “God indeed 
is my salvation.”  Later Isaiah says, 
“With joy you will draw water from the 
fountains of salvation.”

These verses speak to us of our Savior and 
are in keeping with the theme of this Sunday's 
first reading, “The Lord your God is a mighty 
savior.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)

And having been promised salvation, we are to
“Rejoice in the Lord always,” as St Paul tells us 
in Sunday's second Reading. (Philippians 4:4)

And what effect does the promise of salvation
have on us?  We draw strength from our saving
relationship with God – Isaiah says it for us,
“I am confident and unafraid.”  (Remember, God’s 
perfect love drives out fear.)  Isaiah gives us further 
evidence, “My strength and my courage is the Lord.”

And where does the power come from that is the 
source of our courage?   It comes from our baptism,
first with water, then from our baptism in the Holy 
Spirit.  This is the good news that John preached
when he promised that the Christ would baptize us 
with the Holy Spirit. (Gospel, Luke 3:16)

And as Isaiah reminds us, during this season of Advent 
we are to sing praise to the Lord -- “Let the good news 
be known throughout all the earth!”  We are to “Shout 
with exultation, for great in our midst, is the Holy One 
of Israel!”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Response this Sunday is, 'Cry out with joy and gladness:
for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.'   Describe how
you prepare to receive Jesus inside your heart during this season
of Advent.

2.  Isaiah says, 'My strength and my courage is the Lord.'   Explain
what this verse means to you, especially at this time of the year.