Reflections
“The eyes of the Lord are upon those who
fear Him, to deliver them from death.”The Psalm is praise for God’s providence,
the blessings He gives us. “The Lord fills
the earth with goodness. His works are
trustworthy.”
We may not have the faith of Abraham
(Genesis 12:1-4), but we can be sure
the Lord’s eyes are upon us – “The
Lord’s eyes are upon those who hope
for His gracious help.” As our psalmist
says, “O Lord, we have put our hope
in you.”
In Sunday's 2nd reading, St Paul says
that God has saved us and called us to
a holy life. (2 Timothy 1:9)
The Psalmist confirms this – “We are
delivered from death, kept alive in times
of famine.” We may not be starving for
physical food, but we could face spiritual
death from sin if we were not saved by
our Lord Jesus.
“The eyes of the Lord are upon those
who fear Him, to deliver them from death.”
Remember, the wages of sin is death, and
we are all afflicted. Fortunately for us,
Christ destroyed death and brought life,
as St Paul says (2 Timothy 1:10),
so it is natural that we openly ask for His
help and His protection. He is our shield
in the spiritual battle that we all have to fight.
“Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help
and our shield.”
If we trust in the Lord, His eyes will be upon
us so long as we count ourselves among
those who fear Him, and we can expect
to receive His grace.
Through His goodness we can expect a
transfiguration of our own, and that same light
which shone from Jesus' face that day on
Mt Tabor can be a source of light for us
and those around us. “We have put our hope
in you, O Lord.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. As our psalmist says, the Lord's eyes are upon us, and that is a good thing
because of His saving grace. Speak of how you depend on God's providence
to preserve you as you go about your daily life amidst the world's attractions.
2. The Psalm assures us that God's love and mercy will be granted to us, as we place our trust in Him. Give an example of how you have trusted in the Lord and how you have benefited from His kindness.
2. The Psalm assures us that God's love and mercy will be granted to us, as we place our trust in Him. Give an example of how you have trusted in the Lord and how you have benefited from His kindness.
ReplyDeleteJ K
5:13 PM (2 hours ago)
to me
It is easy to think of this season of Lent as a series of deprivations. But what if we could flip the switch and view these weeks as a series of liberations, instead? A freeing of our mind and heart. That would be much closer to God's plan for us, in His perfect kindness.
I was recently listening to a message from Pope Leo on Radio Vaticana, where he spoke on forgiveness. In a few minutes, I was mesmerized by the message: "forgiveness is not a single event, but an attitude... a repeated choice..." When we choose to forgive someone, we are not denying justice, but rather entrusting that justice to God, who is the Ultimate Judge.
In thinking on those who have wronged me, or wronged members of my inner circle of family and friends, I can become agitated. Bitter even. But in the Lord's plan, forgiveness is a way for us to have true interior peace. We become lighter and can fast more completely, without added burden.
I believe the Lord caused me to listen to this nugget of wisdom, thanks to a Bible Study friend who highlighted the radio address on her blog, Adry's blog. I have entrusted my Lenten journey to the Lord and He rewards me with directions on how to use his love and mercy -- both modeling these in my life and receiving them wholeheartedly.
God is good! Jesus, I trust in you. I can expect abundant lessons and blessings to come.
We are the light of the world as temples of the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteHow do I depend on God’s providence in daily life?
ReplyDeleteWhen I read, “The eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear Him,” I feel both comforted and challenged. Comforted because it means I’m never alone — even in the small, ordinary parts of my day. Challenged because it reminds me that God sees how I respond to temptations, distractions, and pressures around me.
I know I don’t always have the bold faith of Abram, who left everything behind simply because God told him to go. Sometimes I hesitate. Sometimes I want more reassurance. But this psalm reassures me that even when my faith feels small, God’s faithfulness is not. His goodness fills the earth — including the small spaces of my own life.
In my daily life, I’m surrounded by so many things that compete for my attention — Personal Worries and Desires, Success, Physical Needs and Comforts, Social approval, Entertainment & Leisure, Technology, Social Media, Family Responsibilities and Material things. It’s easy to get caught up in them and slowly drift from what truly matters. I depend on God’s providence by starting my day in prayer, even if it’s brief, asking Him to guide my thoughts and decisions. I ask Him to guard my heart when I feel tempted to act out of pride, impatience, or selfishness.
There are moments when I feel overwhelmed or uncertain about decisions. In those times, I remind myself that God sees the bigger picture. I may not understand what He is doing, but I trust that His grace is preserving me in ways I can’t see. Knowing that His eyes are upon me gives me peace — it helps me choose what is right instead of what is easy.
An example of trusting the Lord and benefiting from His kindness:
There was a time when I faced a difficult situation and didn’t know what the outcome would be. I felt anxious and wanted to control everything. Instead of relying only on myself, I made a conscious decision to surrender it to God. I prayed honestly, telling Him my fears and asking for His will to be done — even if it wasn’t what I expected.
At first, nothing changed outwardly. But inwardly, something did. I felt calmer. I wasn’t carrying the weight alone anymore. Over time, the situation worked out in a way that was better than I had planned. Looking back, I can see how God’s kindness was present the whole time — not just in the final result, but in the peace He gave me while waiting.
That experience taught me that trusting God doesn’t always remove challenges, but it does change how I walk through them. His mercy sustains me. His love steadies me. And His providence guides me, even when I cannot see the full path ahead.
Ultimately, this psalm challenges me to ask: Do I really trust that God’s eyes are upon me? Am I placing my hope in Him, or in my own plans? When I consciously choose to depend on His providence, I feel more at peace. I’m reminded that His grace is enough, and that His goodness surrounds me even when life feels uncertain.
I really enjoyed reading Psalm 33 and one of the reasons
ReplyDeleteis that I found it comforting, that there's comfort in knowing that God's watchful eye,
protection and limitless love is always there for those who trust in Him and see God
as a protector and shield in times of trouble. God has unfailing love for those who
fear Him, and fear is defined as deep respect, awe, and humility, not terror...
It is recognizing God's omnipotence, and receiving His love and trusting in Him.
True security comes from God, not from the limits of human strength or military might.
True security comes from God's ability to provide for us when we truly need Him, such
as when we are going through a spiritual or physical "famine"..
We must have an active, expectant confidence that God will act, will come through for
us, which always shows His unfailing and steadfast love..