Psalm for Sunday, April 2, 2023

Reflections

Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24  (Read)

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

David writes this psalm almost 

as though these verses are to be 

part of the Passion of Christ.  

The psalm even becomes the

prayer of Christ at the time 

of His crucifixion and speaks 

of the suffering that our Savior 

experiences on our behalf. 

People are the same today as they 

were back then, when Jesus was being 

led to the cross.  We scoff at Him; 

we mock Him; we wag our heads; 

and hurl insults at Him.

Why?   Because He became sin; He took our
sins upon himself and become contemptible
in our eyes.  He reminds us that we are a sinful
people; He convicts us; He catches us in the lie; 
He embarrasses us; He exposes us; He accuses
us  of being hypocrites.  The truth hurts!  We who
are mired in the pit take a  perverse delight in
seeing our Lord suffer for our sake.

Christ holds us to a higher standard; He remains
above sin; He speaks directly to God; He claims
to be God's Son; and we reject Him for this; and
mock Him. We do not move to assist Him;
let God rescue Him.

As our psalmist says, “He relied on the Lord –
let God  deliver him; let God rescue him, if He
loves him.”   These are the same words used by
those who  conspired against Jesus when He was
dying on the cross. They did not realize that the
suffering and death of an innocent servant would
restore life for sinful man. The words they spoke
were to be fulfilled, not by Jesus coming down from
the cross, but by sinful humanity like us being
delivered, forgiven, and lifted up with God’s Son.

We are reminded by St Paul in today's second reading
that Christ takes the form of a slave, obedient even to death
for our sake. (Philippians 2:7)  And the prophet Isaiah in our
first reading  speaks about the Messiah long before his birth
and predicts that He will be beaten and His beard will be
plucked. (Isaiah 50:6)   But the suffering servant does not rebel
(as Isaiah tells us).  He knows that He will not be put to shame. 
The Father is not far off, even when Jesus lies hanging on the cross.

We know that what seemed like a moment of weakness for Christ
became a source of strength for the rest of us.  As our psalmist says,
“You Lord do not stay far off; my strength, come quickly to help me.”

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist says, "All who see me scoff at me."  Are you one  of those 
who mocked Christ?   Can you identify with those who wagged their heads 
and shouted, "Let God deliver him; let God rescue him."   Explain.

2.  The verses of the Psalm are a plea to the Lord, "Be not far from me;  
O my help, hasten to aid me."   Give an example of a time when you have 
called out to God to hurry and rescue you.

Psalm for Sunday, March 26, 2023

Reflections 

Psalm 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8   (Read)

“With the Lord, there is mercy and fullness of redemption.” 

The psalmist calls to the Lord from “out of the depths” 
of his sin that has brought him near to death.  He asks
the Lord, “Hear my cry for mercy.”  He waits with longing
for the Lord, knowing that God forgives, and redeems us, 
even when we abandon Him.  “My soul looks for the Lord 
more than sentinels for daybreak.”

There is no way we can please God, so long as we remain
in the flesh, as St Paul says in Sunday's 2nd reading (Romans 8:8). 
But God forgives us, gives us 'life in the spirit' and saves us 
from death (remember 'the wages of sin is death.')  What
greater act of forgiveness could there be than the sacrifice 
of the Son of God for our sins?  “But with you there is 
forgiveness, that you may be revered.”

We too await our redemption with hope, knowing that even
if we are dead in our sins, the Lord will revive us.  We too 
cry out to the Lord for forgiveness –  “Lord, may your ears
be attentive  to my cry for mercy.”

Redemption is a promise made to us, just as the Lord 
promised  the Israelites that he would open their graves and 
put his Spirit within them, so they would live. (Ezekiel 37:12-14)

That same Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, and St Paul 
tells us the Spirit of God will give life to our mortal bodies also. (Romans 8:11)
This is that  “full redemption” the psalmist talks about that is
later made real to us in the Gospel story of Lazarus. (John 11:1-45)
And so we too have come to believe and revere our Lord, 
as happened in the Gospel among the Jews in Bethany.  
Truly, 'Our God is an awesome God.'

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist sings about the promise of forgiveness that is available to us 
if we trust in the Lord.   Speak about how you will seek out God's mercy during 
this Lenten season.

2.  The Psalm talks about 'plenteous redemption,' or the 'fullness of redemption.'   
Tell what this means to you as you prepare for the coming of Easter.

Psalm for Sunday, March 19, 2023

Reflections

Psalm 23:  1-3, 3-4, 5, 6   (Read)

“The Lord is my shepherd.”

We are like sheep, and we look 
to the Good Shepherd to lead us 
beside still waters, and guide us 
along the right paths.  We fear 
no harm, because the Good 
Shepherd is at our side.  
Where else should we turn?

Our Lord restores us when we are 
down, protects us with his rod and 
his staff when we are threatened.  
We lack nothing when we trust in 
the Lord.  We fear nothing, even 
when our lives are at a low point 
spiritually or physically.

Our eyes are opened by our trust in the Lord;
we are led out of the dark valley of sin where 
we did fruitless things in secret.  Like our psalmist 
King David, we are anointed with oil by the Lord,
and we make a covenant with Him.

Our trust in the Lord is rewarded.  He sends His Son 
to save us, and His Spirit to live within us.  Surely 
goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life.

“I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
The promise that King David speaks of in his final days 
is what Jesus died for.  Jesus reconciles us with the 
Father, and when Jesus is raised up, we too are resurrected.

Having been rescued by our Savior, and now counted 
among His obedient sheep, we are ready to do His will.
We are groomed to enter the Kingdom and to sit at the 
table that God sets for us.  If we believe in Him, we too 
shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.   Our Psalm speaks of the Lord as our Shepherd. Do you believe 
you are one of His sheep?  What does it mean to be counted among His flock?

2.  Our psalmist says that the Lord anoints his head with oil.  Are you one of 
the Lord's anointed?   Describe how the Lord is using you as one of His anointed.

Psalm for Sunday, March 12, 2023

Reflections

Psalm 95:  1-2, 6-7, 8-9  (Read)

“We are the people God 

shepherds, the flock He guides.”

The Psalm is a call to praise 

the Lord and to obey Him. 

We are cautioned not to 

'harden our hearts' as the 

Israelites did at Meribah. 

We are not to test the Lord 

as our spiritual ancestors 

tested the Lord 'as in the day 

of Massah in the desert.'  

After all, we are 'God’s well 

tended flock.' 

Our Lord is a good shepherd, and we 

are His sheep. As St Paul tells us in 

today's second reading,  the love of 

God is 'poured out into our hearts 

through the holy Spirit.' (Romans 5:5)

Knowing that, we should 'bow down 

in worship, kneel before the Lord 

who made us,'  as the Psalm says.

And when we humble ourselves

and open our hearts to the Lord, 

we are set free. We are no longer
constrained by the things of this world, 

and we can be open to His love and 

His teachings. 

Today's Gospel  affirms that Our Lord Jesus 

is our savior, and just as the life of the Samaritan

woman at the well was transformed by the words 

of Jesus, we too can be transformed, if we truly 

listen to the Lord.  Not only will He tell us 

'everything we ever did,' but He will give us 

that living water which quenches our spiritual 

thirst. (See John 4: 5-42)

At that point our hearts will no longer be hardened.

We will 'bow down in worship,' and as our psalmist

says, we will greet our Lord with a song of praise.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist encourages us not to harden our hearts if we hear God's voice.  Do you find it difficult sometimes to carry out God's will in your life even if you believe He is speaking to you?   Give an example.

2.  The psalm reminds us that we are like sheep and the Lord is our shepherd.  Are you willing to be just an ordinary sheep  among His flock?  If so, what does it mean to you to be shepherded by the Lord?