Reflections
“The Lord God keeps faith forever.”
The Psalm tells us that our long journey of waiting and petitioning the Lord has come to an end. For us, then, the Psalm is about the time of Advent, when the promises of Isaiah and the other prophets
are fulfilled. (Isaiah 35: 1-6, 10)
The coming of Jesus means for us that we who are afflicted will be set free; we who are hungry will receive real food.
Why do we trust in God and not princes of
this world? Because, “The Lord God keeps
faith forever; He gives food to the hungry.”
Who among us is not hungry for a closer
relationship with The Lord?
And, “The Lord gives sight to the blind.”
Our eyes are opened when we enter the
kingdom. St James tells us that our patience
will be rewarded. (James 5: 7-10)
And the psalm confirms this, “The Lord raises
up those who are bowed down.”
We are raised up with the Lord Jesus.
Our psalmist sings about God's promises to the
oppressed, the hungry, the prisoner, the blind,
and those who are bowed down in one way or
another. We could all benefit by being set free
in the Spirit or healed, so that we are no longer
blinded. Then we too would no longer be lame,
but would be able to leap like a stag as the
prophet Isaiah promises. (Isaiah 35: 6)
And how are the promises of the psalmist fulfilled?
Where else but in the healing ministry of Jesus,
as the Gospel tells us. (Matthew 11: 2-11)
Who else has the grace and the mercy to heal us?
Advent is our time to be joyful. The coming of
the Messiah opens up a new time for us, a time
of promise. We can celebrate with our psalmist,
“The Lord shall reign forever; your God, Zion,
through all generations! Hallelujah!”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm's verses speak of a hopeful time when our God
will come and save us. Tell of what it means to you to trust in
the Lord, to be set free, and to be raised up.
2. Our psalmist promises that the Lord will give food to the
hungry. Speak of your hunger for a closer relationship with the
Lord, and how you expect to receive real food this Advent.
We are about to celebrate Gaudete Sunday -- the time to REJOICE at the Incarnation and welcome Jesus' coming as our Savior. Our hopes and dreams are fulfilled in this innocent babe, who will transform us in every way. As we read this week in Isaiah 35:5-6, "...the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy..."
ReplyDeleteI love the image of weakened or imperfect people being made whole -- enabled to do exactly what they could not prior to Jesus' healing.
I include myself in the blind, dear, lame, and mute. Though I have my faculties in the physical sense, how many times have I not seen, heard, acted, or spoken for the Lord? I serve a dynamic God who moves in ways uniquely understood by each of us. He meets me where I am. He knows what is hindering my progress. And if today, I am in the dumps of overindulgence, knotted relationships, or pride in self, He is not surprised. He gently convicts me of those areas that need attention -- I am not too base for His love and mercy to reach me.
Through hope of this heavenly outreach to me, over and over... I am set free and raised up by the Lord, "...who keeps faith forever..." (Psalm 146:6.).
I do not wish to oversimplify this miracle process; there is a role for me to play too. I must be open to Him and invite Him into my emptiness and sin. I must allow the Lord to help me in cleaning out the clutter and making room for Him, in the inn of my heart.