Celebrate the Psalms: Psalm for Sunday, September 1, 2024

Monday, August 26, 2024

Psalm for Sunday, September 1, 2024

Reflections

Psalm 15: 2-3, 3-4, 4-5 (Read)

“The one who does justice
will live in the presence of the Lord.”

Just as Moses tells the Israelites
how to take possession of the

promised land (Deuteronomy 4:1),
so our psalmist tells us how
we may climb the holy mountain of God
and live in the presence of the Lord.

The way forward is twofold --
love neighbor, and love God.
If I truly love the Lord,
then my heart will not be far from Him.
If I love the Lord, He will remain in me;
how else would I expect my heart
to remain pure?
When my heart is pure,
I do no harm to my fellow man;
and I think the truth in my heart.

St. James tells us to be doers
of the word (James 1: 22, 27);
we are to keep ourselves
unstained by the world.
And Jesus reminds us
in the Gospel (Mark 7:15, 20-23)

that it all starts from inside;

it is from within our hearts

that evil thoughts reside.
The things that come out from within
are what defile us.

So if I am right with the Lord
and my heart is close to Him,
then I will not slander with my tongue
nor take up a reproach against
my neighbor.   Nor will I do harm
economically to my neighbor.
If I do these things, as our psalmist says,
I shall never be disturbed,
and I will live in the presence of the Lord.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.   Our psalmist says whoever thinks the truth in his heart
will live in the presence of the Lord.   How do you go about
preparing your heart so that you are able to receive the Lord?

2. The verses of the Psalm remind us not to slander,
nor to blame our neighbor, nor to harm our fellow man,
nor to hurt him economically.   Explain how being a doer
of the word is inspired by your love of the Lord.

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Studying the Psalms

The Psalms are a powerful part of the Mass and are often overlooked in Catholic Bible studies. I believe the Psalms should be studied in relation to the Gospel and the other scripture readings of the Mass, and we should attempt to see how the Psalms tie in to the teaching of the day.

The Psalms, although written thousands of years ago and well before the time of Christ, are alive, and speak powerfully to each of us. These reflections that appear in these pages talk of how we apply the verses of the Psalms to our everyday life and how the Psalms can inspire us, convict us, teach us, and strengthen our faith.

About Barry Lamont

As an adult convert, Barry was baptized nearly 40 years ago in Boston, along with his wife and his two daughters.
His eyes were opened, and he recognized Jesus as the way to his salvation and as the way to ensure the spiritual well being
of his wife and his children. He is now a daily communicant.

Barry realizes there is a spiritual battle going on all around him, and he needs all the weapons that his faith provides.
Scripture says the sword of the spirit is the Word of God.
Barry believes the Word is a powerful instrument of God that
can purify and strengthen him, and guide him.

Following his retirement some ten years ago, Barry began to study the Sunday readings as a member of the Bread of Life Bible Study. He was inspired to celebrate the Psalms as a way of doing the Lord's work. Armed with the power of the Word, Barry believes he is better equipped to do the will of the Lord, who speaks to us through the verses of the Psalms. The Bible says, “It was I who chose you.” Barry now has a job from which he will not be retiring.