Reflections
"Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart."
The Psalm reminds us that man’s
days are numbered, and that
we should use our time wisely,
making our days and our life
count for something.
And how do we do that?
We do it by being open to the
wisdom of God. Just as Solomon
preferred the gift of wisdom over
material wealth, and concluded
that so much of what we do in the
world is vanity, we too see the
advantage of using our time wisely
by doing the Lord's will.
Although we may never receive
the wisdom of Solomon, we can hope
for some ability to be detached from
worldly things, which can separate
us from God.
How do we do this? Where does
the ability come from, to cut through
all our present day concerns?
It is obtained by listening to St Paul
days are numbered, and that
we should use our time wisely,
making our days and our life
count for something.
And how do we do that?
We do it by being open to the
wisdom of God. Just as Solomon
preferred the gift of wisdom over
material wealth, and concluded
that so much of what we do in the
world is vanity, we too see the
advantage of using our time wisely
by doing the Lord's will.
Although we may never receive
the wisdom of Solomon, we can hope
for some ability to be detached from
worldly things, which can separate
us from God.
How do we do this? Where does
the ability come from, to cut through
all our present day concerns?
It is obtained by listening to St Paul
in this Sunday's second reading,
who tells us to put to death the parts
of us that are earthly, take off the old
self and put on the new self.
who tells us to put to death the parts
of us that are earthly, take off the old
self and put on the new self.
(Colossians 3: 5-10)
And Jesus tells us in the Gospel that
we need to store up treasure in heaven
and be rich in what matters to God.
If we can get that right, we may receive
the favor of the Lord and be counted
among his sheep. As the Psalm says,
“May the favor of the Lord our God
be ours.”
How much better will our lives be
if we may sing for joy, as the psalmist
says, and be filled at daybreak
with the love of the Lord.
And having received God’s favor,
we will want to be His servants
and do His work. We will become
laborers in the field where the
harvest is plentiful. And as the
Psalm says, “The work of our hands
will prosper.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm Response this Sunday is, "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts." How would you apply these words to the Psalm's message about using our time wisely?
2. The Psalm ends with a petition that the Lord will "prosper the work of our hands!" How do we be sure that our work will gain the favor of the Lord?
And Jesus tells us in the Gospel that
we need to store up treasure in heaven
and be rich in what matters to God.
If we can get that right, we may receive
the favor of the Lord and be counted
among his sheep. As the Psalm says,
“May the favor of the Lord our God
be ours.”
How much better will our lives be
if we may sing for joy, as the psalmist
says, and be filled at daybreak
with the love of the Lord.
And having received God’s favor,
we will want to be His servants
and do His work. We will become
laborers in the field where the
harvest is plentiful. And as the
Psalm says, “The work of our hands
will prosper.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our Psalm Response this Sunday is, "If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts." How would you apply these words to the Psalm's message about using our time wisely?
2. The Psalm ends with a petition that the Lord will "prosper the work of our hands!" How do we be sure that our work will gain the favor of the Lord?
