Psalm for Sunday, April 6, 2025

Reflections 

Psalm 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6   (Read)

“When the Lord brought back the captives

of Zion, we were like men dreaming.” 

 

What God did for the Israelites, he does 

also for us.  The Jews were liberated from 

being captives of the wicked Babylonians, 

and we are liberated from the captivity of sin 

by that same God who sent his Son to save us. 

Just as the woman in the Gospel this Sunday 

is saved from being stoned to death, Jesus 

redeems all of us from our wicked ways.

God takes pleasure in restoring us, as the 

psalmist says, and his pleasure is reflected 

by the joy in our hearts when we are reconciled 

with Him. “Our mouths [are] filled with laughter; 

our tongues [sing] with joy.” 

It may seem like we are dreaming when we 

make our own Exodus from our past lives of 

disobedience.  The future may be filled with 

a few dry stream beds, but if we are diligent 

and sow the seeds of repentance, we will be 

rewarded with a bountiful harvest and as the 

psalmist says, “We will reap with cries of joy.” 

We join with our psalmist who affirms,

“The Lord has done great things for us.” 

There is good news for us too -- 

we have the Messiah to lead us in our own 

spiritual Exodus, away from slavery to sin, 

and put us under the gentle yoke of Christ 

our Savior.

This is a message of hope; it is a calling that 

is future oriented. Isaiah, in Sunday's first 

reading, says the Lord is doing something 

new (Isaiah 43:19).  St Paul, in the second 

reading, says that faith will lead us to an

“upward calling” in Christ (Philippians 3:14).

For a better future we must do our part --

we must sow the seeds in order to gain 

repentance.  “Those who sow in tears shall 

reap rejoicing.”  Jesus did not condemn the 

woman caught in adultery – she is given a 

chance to repent and to pass from death 

to life (John 8:10-11).  In the same way 

a seed dies and produces a harvest – 

“Those who go forth weeping, carrying 

sacks of seed, will return with cries of joy, 

carrying their bundled sheaves.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist speaks of the the Jewish captives being set free and

brought back from Babylon.  Tell of your own liberation this Lenten season 

from being captive to sin.

2.  The psalm contains a message of hope for us all -- that we shall reap 

joyfully in the days ahead.  Share how you expect to be raised up with the 

Lord as we approach our Easter celebration.

Psalm for Sunday, March 30, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7  (Read)

“Look to God that you may 

be radiant with joy, and your 

faces may not blush for shame.”

Where does our joy come from? 

How do we obtain a joyful spirit? 

It comes from repenting and 

returning to the Lord, as the 

Prodigal son returns to his father

in this Sunday's Gospel 

reading. (Luke 15:11-32)

For our part, we too will be 

embraced by the Father if we

humble ourselves before Him, 

and confess our sins. Then He will 

take us back. 

 

Like the Prodigal's father, our Lord 

watches for us each day, encouraging 

us to lift our bodies out of our shame 

and return to Him, to be reconciled, 

to be restored, in a right relationship 

with the Father. 

 

“My soul will glory in the Lord,

that the poor may hear and be glad.”

The word poor is said to apply to one

who depends completely on God

for his deliverance and his very life.

That’s where we stand even today,

when we are short of endurance 

along our own spiritual journey.

The psalmist recounts for us how 

he gained deliverance, “I sought

the Lord, who answered me,

delivered me from all my fears.”

Despite the anguish in the psalmist’s 

voice, there is also a powerful, joyful 

spirit – “Look to God that you may 

be radiant with joy, and your faces 

may not blush with shame.”

Our Father watches for us each day, 

encouraging us. He reconciles us

and restores us, and He provides 

the inner strength we need to 

complete our own spiritual journey.

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist looks to God so that his face may not blush for shame.  

Explain how you are overcoming your own shame this Lenten season, 

by looking to the Lord, repenting, and becoming radiant with joy.
   
2.  The Psalm's verses talk about those who are poor in spirit, totally 

dependent on God.   Speak about how you rely on the Lord for deliverance 

and are saved by the Lord.

Psalm for Sunday, March 23, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11  (Read)

“As the heavens tower over the earth,
so God's mercy towers over those
who fear Him.”

Our psalmist sings the praises of a
divine and loving God, who surrounds
us with compassion, pardons our sins,
heals our ills.

God will deliver us as He delivered the
Israelites from their affliction at the hands
of the Egyptians. (Exodus 3:7-8)
“God delivers your life from the pit,
surrounds you with love and compassion.”

God nurses no lasting anger,  He has not
dealt with us as our sins deserve. 
But God demands something of us
in return – that we cleanse ourselves
from evil desires and avoid sin.
St Paul warns us, “Whoever thinks
he is standing secure should take care
not to fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12) 
Jesus says it more powerfully in today's
Gospel, “If you do not repent, you will
all perish.” (Luke 13:5)

The Lord’s patience with us is a gift –
“Merciful and gracious is the Lord,
slow to anger, abounding in kindness.”
Our duty is to remain faithful to the Lord,
as His children, and to treat His anointed ones
with love and compassion, as He would do.

We are to be merciful to our enemies by
imitating Jesus.  Who can love their enemies,
and do good to them?  It will be difficult if
we allow our earthly nature to rule us.
Just as God has not dealt with us as our
sins merit, so must we have compassion
on those we may be inclined to condemn.

We cannot imitate God without a share
in Christ’s divinity, by allowing the Holy
Spirit within us to guide us.  Only then
will we have the kind of compassion the
Psalm speaks about.

And as our psalmist says, God’s love will
tower over us if we are his faithful.
If we love the Lord, it will show in our hearts,
and the old things will then pass away. 
What could be a better lesson for our
Lenten journey.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist assures us that God in His compassion will redeem our life
from the 'pit.'  But we must do our part and show repentance.  Describe how
during Lent you are becoming kinder and more merciful to your family and
your neighbors.

2.  The Psalm inspires us to bless the Lord and 'forget not all His benefits.' 
Speak of your gratitude for the gifts you have received from God.

Psalm for Sunday, March 16, 2025

 

Reflections 

Psalm 27: 1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14    (Read)

“Come, says my heart, seek God’s face;
Your face, Lord, do I seek!”

Our psalmist, David, puts into words
what we feel in our hearts, which is
to seek a right relationship with
the Lord.  We are drawn to the Lord;
we wish to speak to Him face to face,
to be in His presence, to listen to
His Word, and to serve Him faithfully.

We may not have the faith of Abraham
(Genesis 15:6),  but we know that
a right relationship with the Lord is
key for us, because without that close
relationship, we have little chance
of salvation.  Our psalmist knows the
critical importance of salvation,
“Do not forsake me, God, my savior.”

Few of us will be able to speak directly
with God, but God makes himself
accessible to us through His Son, Jesus.
And in this Sunday's 2nd reading,
St Paul promises that our own bodies
will be changed, to conform with Christ’s
glorified body. (Philippians 3:21)
This is how our own personal transfiguration
takes place.

What can we do to be sure we share in
Christ’s glory?  St Paul tells the brothers
in Philippi, “Stand firm in the Lord.” 
And our psalmist agrees, “Wait for the Lord,
take courage, be stouthearted, wait for
the Lord.”

What better way for us to stand firm in
the Lord than to commune with Him in
prayer, to worship Him, to be transformed
by Him, as were those disciples that day
when Jesus was transfigured on the
mountain. (Luke 9:29)  Having been
transformed, we, like the disciples,
will be emboldened in our faith --
“Of whom should I be afraid?”  
In our day to day battles against evil forces,
we need not fear anyone, for He is our refuge.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist seeks God's face.  Does your heart seek a right
relationship with the Lord?  Speak of how you are drawn to the Lord,
and how He makes himself accessible to you.

2.  The season of Lent can be a time of transformation for us.  But we
cannot change our hearts by ourselves; we all need the Lord's help,
as does our psalmist, 'You are my helper; cast me not off.'   Tell of how
you are becoming a better person with the help of the Lord.

Psalm for Sunday, March 9, 2025

Reflections


Psalm 91: 1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15  (Read)

“Whoever clings to me I will deliver; 

whoever knows my name, I will set on high.”

This Sunday's Psalm is about God’s
protection of the faithful.  It applies to us 
who place ourselves under His protection 
along the path of life.  The psalmist
addresses us, “You who dwell in the shelter
of the Most High, say to the Lord, 'My refuge 
and fortress.'”

As mentioned in Sunday’s first reading, the 
Israelites were in great distress under the 
oppression of the Egyptians.  What the Lord 
did for them, He is prepared to do for us, 
“The Lord heard our cry and saw our 
affliction.”  (Deuteronomy 26:7)
In today's Gospel even the devil respects 
the power of God and His commitment to our 
security, when he quotes this verse of the Psalm, 
“For God commands the angels to guard you in
all your ways.”  (Luke 4:10)

And how do we obtain this level of protection 
amidst the snares along the way and the terror 
of the night?  We call upon the Lord, and we trust
in Him to deliver us, “Whoever clings to me I will 
deliver; whoever knows my name I will set on high.”

St Paul proclaims a similar message in Sunday's 
second reading, “Everyone who calls on the name 
of the Lord will be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
The psalmist agrees and quotes the Lord,
“All who call upon me I will answer; I will be with 
him in distress; I will deliver and give him honor.”
What could be more reassuring than that?

Amen 


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist speaks about God's angels guarding us in all our ways.   
Give an example of how you have been borne up upon the wings of angels 
and given power physically or spiritually to trample down the devil and his minions.

2.  In the Psalm God says that if we cling to Him, He will deliver us and set us on high.  Tell of what it means to you to 'cling' to the Lord, and having done so, how have you been made free from evil that threatens you.

Psalm for Sunday, March 2, 2025

Reflections (by J Kim)

Psalm 92:  2-3, 13-14, 15-16   (Read)

"Lord, it is good to give thanks to you."
  
Displaying an attitude of gratitude.  Sending a thank-you note.  Saying your "please and thank you’s.”   Such are lessons we teach our children as we train them in what is socially proper.  If only we would spend as much time considering what is proper in the spiritual sense.

God our Creator is all-deserving and worthy of our praise.  A well-known prayer guide pinpoints five essential 

elements of prayer.  
Adoration, Confession, Petition, and 
Intercession, are ALWAYS followed by 
Thanksgiving.  Psalm 92:2 is often quoted 
in support:  "It is good to give thanks to the 
Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High."

Also to be noted is the use of the word "sing" in that first verse.
The Lord loves to hear our voices in song.  Thus, hymns of any 
sort are an integral part of worship.  Something about singing 
focuses our hearts on Jesus and softens his heart to accept 
our prayerful pleas.

Our Abba Father gives us our days in 24 hour increments.
Could we handle any more?  His grace is enough for each day;
the psalmist writes, "It is good to proclaim your kindness at dawn
and your faithfulness throughout the night."

The cedar of Lebanon is a mighty and beautiful tree referenced
throughout Scripture.  A small cedar shoot is replanted and 
compared to a "majestic cedar" as it grows strong 
with its roots  firmly planted.  
The Psalm says, 
“The just one shall flourish, like a cedar of 
Lebanon shall he grow."

Later, the psalmist writes, "They shall bear fruit even in old age;
vigorous and sturdy shall they be."  Living in a righteous manner, 
with the foundations of our beliefs firmly rooted, we too are called
to have the strength and fruitfulness of the cedar, even unto the
very end of our earthly lives.  

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  "Lord, you are holy indeed.  It is right to give you thanks and praise."  These are familiar words to any Mass-goer.   How do you sincerely give thanks to the Lord in your daily life?

2.  How can you become more like the upright palm tree or the majestic and firmly-rooted Lebanese cedar?  Do others see you as a just and righteous person through your everyday speech and actions?  What can you change about yourself so that you, too, can "bear fruit even in old age?"    

Psalm for Sunday, February 23, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13   (Read)

“The Lord redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.”

Our psalmist sings the praises of a divine 
and loving God, who surrounds us with 
compassion, pardons our sins, heals our ills.
He nurses no lasting anger; He has not dealt 
with us as our sins deserve.  Our duty is 
to remain faithful to the Lord, and to treat 
His anointed ones with love and compassion, 
as He would do.

This Sunday's Gospel teaches a powerful and 
difficult lesson – We are to be merciful to our 
enemies by imitating the Father.  The Psalm 
tells us how, by being “Merciful and gracious, 
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.”

Who can love their enemies, and do good to them?
It will be difficult if we allow our earthly nature 
to rule us.  Just as “God has not dealt with us 
as our sins merit,” so must we imitate God and 
have compassion on those we would typically 
want to condemn.

We cannot imitate God without a share in Christ’s 
divinity, and in turn being empowered by the holy 
Spirit within us.  Only then will we have the kind 
of compassion the psalmist speaks about,  “As a 
father has compassion on his children, so the Lord 
has compassion on the faithful.”

If we love the Lord, it will show in our hearts, and 
the old things will then pass away.  The Psalm says 
it well:  “As far as the east is from the west, 
so far has He put our transgressions behind us.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Psalm speaks of a loving and compassionate God,
who does not deal with us according to our sins.   Are you able
to treat those who have harmed you in the same way?  Explain.

2.  The verses of the Psalm remind us of the power of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation, "As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He put our transgressions behind us."  Relate how the
Sacrament works for you to put your sins behind you.

Psalm for Sunday, February 16, 2025

 

Reflections

Psalm 1: 1-2, 3, 4, 6   (Read)

"Blessed are they who trust in the Lord."

                                                          

The Psalm sets before us a life

choice -- nothingness, righteous or 

sinfulness, self reliance or 

trust in God, good or evil, 

wickedness or love.  Those 

who deaden their conscience 

for their own ends have no 

other future but ruin.  

The righteous are blessed,

for they are separated from sin.  

The righteous are able to stand fast 

and enhance their spiritual life.  

The wicked are completely 

powerless spiritually for they are 

like chaff that is borne away even by 

the slightest breeze.  

How do the righteous obtain their strength 

in the midst of evil?   They meditate on God's 

law day and night, they delight in the law of the 

Lord.  What does this mean for us?   We are to 

keep God’s word in front of us, use scripture 

as a guide to how we should live our lives.  

Scripture is an instrument of God, and when 

we pray to God he will answer us in the pages 

of the Bible. 

In Sunday’s first reading Jeremiah says, 

“Cursed is the one who puts his trust in 

human beings, whose heart turns away 

from the Lord.  Blessed is the one who 

trusts in the Lord.”   However we seek the 

fellowship of other men, we should 

not put our trust in them.  

When we trust in the Lord we become 

well planted and able to weather the storms of life. 

By contrast the wicked have nothing to anchor

them; they are like chaff which the wind drives away.  

They are on their own, whereas the Lord watches over 

the way of the just.  But the way of the wicked vanishes.  

And in Sunday’s Gospel Jesus himself proclaims 

the beatitudes and assures us that He is on the 

side of those who are at present poor, hungry, 

or mourning, or persecuted.  Their only hope is 

in God.  Whereas those who are filled now, and 

for whom it is all too easy to forget God, are in 

danger of losing all and becoming hungry.

Jesus provides the food which does not run out, the 

drink that does not run dry.  Nothing can disturb us 

if we put our faith in God; nothing can make us happy 

if we turn away from God.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  How do you go about anchoring yourself in God's word in order

to stand fast in the face of the wicked forces that abound?

2.  Speak of how you have trusted in the Lord and how He has 

provided you with strength and happiness.