Reflections
Psalm 19: 8, 9, 10, 15
“Let the words of my mouth and
the thoughts of my heart meet with
your favor, O Lord, my rock and
my redeemer.”
Where does the power come from
to keep us on track, to speak the
right words, think the right thoughts?
It comes from the Lord, our rock
and redeemer. And how does it come to us? Through the Word, the inspired Word of God.
It is through the Word that we know
His commandments, and through this
Psalm that we know His law is a source
of refreshment, a source of joy. When
we follow the Lord’s commands, there
is a joy that is stirred up in our hearts.
“The precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart.”
His statutes do not bind us, they set
us free. As in the days of Ezra, the
reading of the law should not make us sad,
but be a source of rejoicing.
If we are to imitate the divine life,
everything we need to know is found in
God’s law. The Word is the source of
wisdom; it is where power is found.
And it is where the statutes of God
are spelled out.
The Lord's statutes serve as our
instruction manual for life. But they
are not just a dry set of rules that we
cannot hope to follow;
God's commandments refresh our souls.
The Word and the statutes endure forever;
They are refreshing to the soul;
They enlighten the eye;
They bring much reward.
And as Christ says in the Gospel,
the scripture is fulfilled in our hearing.
Give us ears to hear!
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm response this Sunday is 'Your words, Lord,
are Spirit and life.' In what way are you impacted along
your faith journey by the words of our Lord?
2. Speak of how the Lord's commandments are useful in
carrying out the plea of our psalmist, 'Let the words of my
mouth and the thoughts of my heart find favor before you.'
As the Psalmist says, "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart."
ReplyDeleteWe believe the Lord is infallible, omniscient, omni-powerful, and the very definition of love. He can utter only that which is true and good -- for all of creation. Thus, his words and commandments are life-giving. If we follow them, we become oriented toward more and more love. They are moral guides to loving both God and neighbor.
In a perfect world, we are virtuous beings, who always choose good. In our fallen world, we have the freedom to choose good or, or what feels good in the moment, which often leads toward evil.
Especially from Old Testament readings, we know what God's laws are and understand that submitting to the flesh results in a sinful action. In the New Law with Jesus, he asks us about our interior selves, and what motives in our heart cause the sinful act. He offers us his grace to overcome the impulses.
Jesus is the Word made Flesh. It is logical, but also divinely designed that we depend on the Word to guide us toward life-affirming choices. These Godly choices provide us supernatural joy and peace within ourselves and also with one another -- the best life manual we could possibly find.
Even knowing this truth in a cerebral way, does not guarantee that my heart follows easily. Daily prayer and asking for help in weak moments throughout the day, help me to stay in God's favor in both thought and deed.