Psalm for Sunday, August 6, 2023

Reflections


Psalm 97: 1-2, 5-6, 9   (Read)

 "The Lord is king." 

Psalm 97 celebrates the glory 
of the Lord; the earth rejoices
and all peoples see His glory.   
The Psalm's verses recall for 
us this Sunday's Feast of the 
Transfiguration when we see 
the glory of God shining on 
the face of our Savior Jesus 
Christ.
 
God is present in the bright 
cloud which surrounds Jesus,
and the voice of God declares,
"This is my beloved Son."
We join with our psalmist and 
shout, "The Lord is king,"
and like the disciples in Sunday's 
Gospel, we fall prostrate and are 
in awe of this divine vision before us.  
(Matthew 17:1-9)

Oh that we would be completely open 
to the will of the Father, as Christ was, 
on that high mountain when He was 
transfigured, and His face shone like 
the sun.

We may not be called to ascend a high 
mountain to converse with Moses and 
Elijah, but we too can be transfigured 
by the face of God shining upon us.  
We may not receive a vision like Daniel  
(Daniel 7: 9-10, 13-14), but we too can 
be transformed by God's surging stream 
of fire that purifies and causes the mountains 
to melt like wax.

We may not need to be there in person when 
Jesus appears in glory and the Father affirms 
the divinity of the Son.  Wherever we are, Christ 
is manifested to us children of light, who have 
put off the works of darkness and put on the 
armor of light.  

St Paul says that we all, with unveiled face, 
beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed
into his likeness. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
This is a daunting prospect for us, as it was 
for Christ's disciples.  But we can rely on the 
prayer of the Psalm which tells us, "Light dawns 
for the just and gladness for the honest of heart;
God protects the souls of the faithful; the fire 
of the Lord goes before him, consuming his 
foes on every side."

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm speaks of an awesome day when clouds and darkness surround 
our God and fire goes before Him.   Despite this awesome vision tell of how you 
are transformed into a child of light when you encounter God.

2.  Having encountered God and been transformed, we are called to follow Christ, 
take up our cross, and carry out God's will in our lives.  Speak of what God has 
commissioned you to do for Him.