Reflections
“By the Lord has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.”
Once again we visit this powerful
psalm of praise and thanksgiving.
psalm of praise and thanksgiving.
This time the verses stress the
enduring love that God has for us –
enduring love that God has for us –
so much so that despite the part
we played in crucifying his Son,
God went ahead and carried out
His plan to save us. Jesus’ risen
presence among us is living proof
of God’s enduring love.
His plan to save us. Jesus’ risen
presence among us is living proof
of God’s enduring love.
“God’s love endures forever.”
We may be 'hard pressed and
falling,' but the Lord comes to
our help. As the psalmist says,
the Lord is our strength. He is
present to those of us who are
falling,' but the Lord comes to
our help. As the psalmist says,
the Lord is our strength. He is
present to those of us who are
in need of healing, just as He
was in those early days of the
church described by St Luke in
this Sunday's first reading (Acts 4:33),
was in those early days of the
church described by St Luke in
this Sunday's first reading (Acts 4:33),
and in Sunday's Gospel (John 20:19-23)
We may not have the awesome
experience that St Thomas had when
he physically put his hand into the
Lord’s side and his fingers into the
nail marks on Jesus' hand,
experience that St Thomas had when
he physically put his hand into the
Lord’s side and his fingers into the
nail marks on Jesus' hand,
but our Savior is with us.
“The Lord has become my savior.”
We are victorious over death.
The Lord’s deliverance is cause
for joy. Just when we were down,
the Lord raises us up.
for joy. Just when we were down,
the Lord raises us up.
“I was hard pressed and falling,
but the Lord came to my help.”
“The joyful shout of victory is heard.”
We are on firm ground after all –
Christ has become our cornerstone,
as our psalmist reminds us.
Christ has become a source of strength
for us, despite His apparent weakness
that day on the cross,
for us, despite His apparent weakness
that day on the cross,
when He died a shameful death.
Only the Lord could have done this
remarkable thing:
remarkable thing:
“By the Lord has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.”
This is cause for rejoicing --
“This is the day the Lord has made.”
Along with the disciples and the early
church, “Let us be glad and rejoice in it.”
church, “Let us be glad and rejoice in it.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist praises the Lord because the stone that was rejected has
become our cornerstone. Why do you think God would permit his Son to
undergo a shameful death in order to make Jesus the cornerstone of our faith?
2. Our psalm begins by stressing over and over that the mercy of God endures
forever, and this Sunday's Response also says, 'His love is everlasting.' Describe how these verses strengthen your faith and inspire you to trust in the Lord.
1. Our psalmist praises the Lord because the stone that was rejected has
become our cornerstone. Why do you think God would permit his Son to
undergo a shameful death in order to make Jesus the cornerstone of our faith?
2. Our psalm begins by stressing over and over that the mercy of God endures
forever, and this Sunday's Response also says, 'His love is everlasting.' Describe how these verses strengthen your faith and inspire you to trust in the Lord.
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