Reflections
“Good and upright is the Lord,
He shows sinners the way.”
This Sunday's Psalm is
a prayer for forgiveness
and guidance, a good
way to begin the season
of Lent. Our psalmist
David recalls the covenant
the Lord made with Noah
(Genesis 9: 8-15), and David
writes, “Remember your
compassion and love,
O Lord, for they are ages old.”
He shows sinners the way.”
This Sunday's Psalm is
a prayer for forgiveness
and guidance, a good
way to begin the season
of Lent. Our psalmist
David recalls the covenant
the Lord made with Noah
(Genesis 9: 8-15), and David
writes, “Remember your
compassion and love,
O Lord, for they are ages old.”
Later in the psalm David affirms,
“Good and upright is the Lord,
thus He shows sinners the way.”
Who else could lead us out of the pit
of our sins but God’s Son, the righteous
“Good and upright is the Lord,
thus He shows sinners the way.”
Who else could lead us out of the pit
of our sins but God’s Son, the righteous
one who suffered for us unrighteous
ones, as St Peter reminds us in this
Sunday's second reading.
(1 Peter 3:18-22)
ones, as St Peter reminds us in this
Sunday's second reading.
(1 Peter 3:18-22)
Peter says Baptism doesn’t remove
the dirt from our bodies; it doesn’t
remove our sinful nature. But it does
allow us to receive the Holy Spirit
within us, because without the Spirit,
we are powerless against the devil.
We are blessed to have a God who
does not disregard us. On the contrary,
He is a caring, compassionate God,
does not disregard us. On the contrary,
He is a caring, compassionate God,
willing to humble himself to share in
our humanity, so that we might come
to share in His divinity. Who else
our humanity, so that we might come
to share in His divinity. Who else
would have such regard for sinners,
for believers who disobey him?
It is He who encourages us when our
tongues confess – “The Lord guides the
humble rightly, and teaches the humble
His way.”
for believers who disobey him?
It is He who encourages us when our
tongues confess – “The Lord guides the
humble rightly, and teaches the humble
His way.”
In this Sunday's Gospel, our Lord Jesus
tells us what we are to do as we prepare
for the most important season of the year,
tells us what we are to do as we prepare
for the most important season of the year,
“Repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
And in response we join with our psalmist
and say, “You are God my Savior.”
and say, “You are God my Savior.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm speaks of being taught by the Lord ("Teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me; He teaches the humble His way.") Are you a good student of the Lord? Tell about what you have learned or are learning from the Lord.
2. Our psalmist says, "The Lord shows sinners the way." As we enter the season
of Lent, we could all use some guidance and help as we strive for repentance and
to be bolder in our faith. Explain what you will do during Lent to become a more
obedient Christian and a better witness for your faith.
1. Our Psalm speaks of being taught by the Lord ("Teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me; He teaches the humble His way.") Are you a good student of the Lord? Tell about what you have learned or are learning from the Lord.
2. Our psalmist says, "The Lord shows sinners the way." As we enter the season
of Lent, we could all use some guidance and help as we strive for repentance and
to be bolder in our faith. Explain what you will do during Lent to become a more
obedient Christian and a better witness for your faith.
The Bible Study I am currently using titles this week's lesson as "Beginnings." I love beginnings. Lent is beginning and my heart is full of hope regarding how I will be transformed this season. Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the traditional pillars of Lent that come to mind. And I must admit, my heart does a little "ugh" when I see the word "fasting." In order to overcome my fleshly reluctance, I did just learn about some prayerful practices that might make my heart a little more willing.
ReplyDeleteAt Ash Wednesday Mass, my priest suggested ways to increase the Holy Spirit's movement in my life. Among them, were the ideas of incorporating daily Mass even once a week (or more), spending more time at Adoration in communion with Christ, receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation more often, and praying a novena or two with the rosary. For some reason, the Surrender Novena keeps popping up in my life, with its powerful message of "O Jesus, I surrender myself to You. Take care of everything."
The Archbishop of Denver, Samuel J. Aquila, just sent out a Pastoral note for Lent, encouraging each of us to "Listen to Him." His point is that we can use the season to practice listening to Jesus more intentionally. He stresses the importance of silencing our hearts to hear God's voice learning from Jesus as our teacher. In order to do so, quiet prayer time, at least 15 minutes a day, is encouraged.
If I were to spend more time with Jesus, I cannot be unchanged. In other words, I believe my heart CAN be transformed by his and I can learn to desire what he does. (Including fasting from whatever is holding me back spiritually.)
I embrace the process of repentance, obedience, and becoming a better witness.
The Psalm's verses ring so true, "Good and upright is the Lord; therefore, he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way," (v. 8-9)