Monday, January 1, 2024

Psalm for Sunday, January 7, 2024

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.



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