Reflections
Psalm 93: 1, 1-2, 5 (Read)
“The Lord is king, robed in majesty."
The Psalm celebrates God’s Kingdom,
in which the Lord reigns with majesty,
“gird about with strength.” God revealed
His kingship when He created the world.
But it is during the end times that the
kingdom of God will be displayed in
all its glory. This is in keeping with
our readings this week, in preparation
for our celebration of the Solemnity of
Christ the King this Sunday.
The prophet Daniel in this Sunday's first
reading speaks of the coming of the Son
of Man during the end times. (Daniel 7:13-14)
Sunday's second reading (Revelation 1:5-6)
is more explicit and brings us into the picture.
Christ’s blood frees us, and makes us into a
kingdom, where we become priests for God
the Father.
The kingdom is to be ruled under the Lord's
decrees, which are firmly established, as the Psalm
reminds us. But as Jesus says in the Gospel,
His kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36)
His kingdom cannot be observed. But surely
it is among us, and most certainly, in our hearts.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist proclaims, "The Lord is king, robed with majesty,
girded with might." Yet our Lord Jesus did not seek a kingdom belonging
to this world. Where do you find the kingdom of the Lord? How do you
reach our mighty Lord?
2. The Psalm says that the Lord's throne stands firm and is everlasting.
In what way do you gain strength from this verse?
Reflections
Psalm 16: 5, 8, 9-10, 11 (Read)
"O Lord, you will show me the path to life.”
This psalm of David speaks to us
about a belief in an everlasting life
with God. “Lord, my allotted
portion and my cup, you have made
my destiny secure.”
The psalmist takes refuge in the Lord --
“With the Lord at my right hand,
I shall never be shaken.... My body,
too, abides in confidence.”
The distress that the prophet Daniel
speaks about in Sunday's first
reading (Daniel 12:1) is overcome by
the assurance in the Psalm that the
Lord will not abandon his people (us).
“For you will not abandon my soul
to the netherworld, nor let your
faithful servant see the pit.”
In addition, we can understand the last
verses of the Psalm as a prophecy of the
glorious day when we will see God’s Son
seated at the right hand of the Father.
“You will show me the path to life,
abounding joy in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.”
St Peter also uses the Psalm as a
prophecy that Jesus would be raised up
and would sit at the right hand of the
Father. (Acts 2:25-28) For us these
are encouraging words, with a promise
that we too can look forward to being
lifted up and spending the rest of our
days in the presence of the Lord.
The Lord promises, if we are his faithful
servants, that we will not have to see
the pit. He will not abandon us. As David
says, this is enough to make our hearts
glad and our souls rejoice.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist says that he will not be shaken or
disturbed
so long as the Lord is with him at his right hand. Speak of
how
the Lord enables you to be strong, so that your faith cannot
be shaken.
2. The Psalm says that the Lord will show us the path to
life.
Explain why this verse gives you confidence that you, as a
believer, can look forward to an everlasting life with God.
Reflections
Psalm 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10 (Read)
“The Lord gives food to the hungry, sets captives free.”
This Sunday's Psalm sings of the promises of the Lord.
Just as Elijah promised the widow in this Sunday's first
reading that she would not go hungry (1 Kings 17:16),
so does the Psalm promise that the Lord will sustain
the widow and the fatherless.
But the Lord’s promises go far beyond flour and oil.
The Psalm contains encouraging words not only for
poor widows, but for each of us as well.
God's promises are fulfilled in the person of Jesus,
who carries out the promises of the Psalm – He sets us
captives free and gives sight to us so we can truly see.
And Jesus sustains us -- with real food and drink.
“The Lord raises up those who were bowed down.”
We are all bowed down because of our brokenness
at one time or another. And where do we turn to be
lifted up and made whole again? We turn to the Lord.
Who else has the grace and the mercy to heal us?
Have we not been under pressure from the evil one
to commit sin? Have we not been held captive at
one time or another by our sins? And do we not
experience a hunger for the Lord and for a deeper faith?
That same power that gives sight to the blind and
raises up those who are bowed down is available
to lift us up away from whatever imprisons us.
All it takes is to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior,
and open our hearts to Him.
So we can pray this Psalm, not only in honor of the
heavenly Father, but also in honor of Christ, whom God
exalted. And having done that, we can join with the
psalmist and sing, “The Lord shall reign forever;
our God, through all generations."
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. Our psalmist promises that the Lord will secure justice for the oppressed
and set captives free. In what ways have you been imprisoned, and how
has the Lord set you free?
2. The Psalm says the Lord gives food to the hungry. Describe how the Lord
has given you real food and drink to satisfy your hunger for a closer relationship
with Him.
Reflections
Psalm 24: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (Read)
“Who may go up the mountain of the Lord?
Who can stand in His holy place?"
This Sunday's Psalm is about a journey to
a holy place. It is a place where we will meet
the Lord. But we are asked, “Who can ascend
the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in
His holy place?”
Our psalmist answers, “The clean of hand and
pure of heart, who has not given his soul
to what is vain, such is the people that seeks
the face of God.”
We are all unworthy to be in the Lord's
presence, but at least we can cleanse
ourselves through confession, and bathe
in the Word. That is how we show our love
for the Lord.
Though we may not have to climb a mountain
to meet the Lord, we must prepare to receive
Him in our hearts. The Psalm is guiding us to
prepare ourselves from within, so that we are
made ready to receive Him when He comes.
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm asks, "Who can go up to the mountain of the
Lord?
How do you prepare yourself to ascend the mountain of
the Lord and
stand in His holy place?
2. The Response this Sunday is, "Lord, this is the people that longs
to see your face." Describe the longing in your heart for our Lord.
Reflections
Psalm 126: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 (Read)
“Restore our fortunes, O Lord.”
This Sunday's Psalm celebrates the
reversal of Israel’s fortune, and return
from exile, which could not have
occurred without God’s intervention.
The psalm's verses reflect praise for
what the Lord has done. “The Lord
has done great things for them.”
The psalm is also a petition asking
the Lord to look after the future of the
remaining Israelites. And there is an
expectation that God will guide them
in achieving prosperity.
“Restore again our fortunes, Lord,
like the dry stream beds of the Negeb.”
This calls to mind our lst reading from
Jeremiah, where God promises to lead
the remnant of Israel to brooks of water,
on a level road, so that none shall
stumble. (Jeremiah 31:9) We too are
looking for that water which restores
and renews, cleanses us and purifies us,
that living water which satisfies our
spiritual thirst.
The Psalm also reminds us the truly great thing
the Lord has done for us is to send his only
begotten Son to be by our side. Jesus’ presence
in our lives is a guarantee of a spiritual harvest
that will lead to our own salvation. Just as
Bartimaeus, the blind man in the Gospel, is saved
by his own faith, the Lord promises us a transition
from a sinful existence to a world of joy. (Mark 10:52)
The Psalm says it well, “Those who go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown, shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.” And therein lies a lesson for us –
to let go of our own baggage, and pick up the Lord’s
burden, because we know his yoke is easy.
Whatever type of spiritual exile may imprison us, Jesus
shows us a way out. God is in the business of deliverance.
As the prophet Jeremiah confirms, we go among the blind
and the lame to the promised land. (Jeremiah 31:8)
We carry our sacks with us and within those seeds that
we sow is contained the promise of new life, the reversal
of whatever misfortune may trouble us. When the
harvest comes in, we can join with the psalmist and sing,
"Our mouths are filled with laughter, our tongues sing for joy.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The Psalm alludes to a reversal of spiritual exile that may apply to people like us.
Tell of how the Lord has brought you back from a time of being distant from Him.
2. Our psalmist suggests that we carry the seeds of our own salvation even while
we go forth weeping. Speak of how your faith has saved you, when you looked
to the Lord for healing.
Reflections
Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22 (Read)
"Lord, let your mercy be on us,
as we place our trust in you.”
Our Sunday Psalm is written in praise
of God’s power and providence.
It is the Lord’s design for his
people that stands through all
the generations. It is through
his plan that we are saved.
Our own feeble efforts count for
nothing. We must be submissive
and abandon ourselves to his providence.
And how do we know his plan?
This Sunday's lst reading (Isaiah)
graphically outlines what God has
in mind for his Son, that He be
'crushed for our offenses.' (Isaiah 53:10)
As unpleasant as this sounds,
that is how we are delivered from
death. Because Christ humbles himself for
our sake, becomes a slave to our sin,
there is hope for us, even in our time
of spiritual famine The psalmist has it right,
“The Lord’s eyes are upon those who fear Him,
to deliver them from death.”
In Sunday's 2nd reading, the Letter to the Hebrews
answers the question, “How can we approach the throne
of God?” The answer is with confidence, and then
we will find mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16)
The theme of the Psalm is the same, “The Lord’s eyes
are upon those who hope for his grace.”
It is said that even people who have no faith
have a longing in their hearts for God. There is something
missing in their lives. For us who are believers,
we are dependent on the Lord – we openly ask for
his help and his protection. He is our shield in the
spiritual battle that we all have to fight.
If we trust in the Lord, his eyes will be upon us,
and we can expect to receive his grace. And as
the psalmist says, through the Lord's grace we
are delivered from death, kept alive in times of famine.
And for this we praise the Lord. As the psalmist says,
we know He will fill the earth with goodness and his
kindness will be upon us. The Psalm ends on a positive
note, “Lord we have put our hope in you.”
Amen
Discussion Questions for Reflection
1. The psalmist says, 'Our soul waits for the Lord.' Tell of how you have
a spiritual hunger for the Lord in your life, and explain how the Lord satisfies
your longing.
2. The psalm's verses state that, 'The eyes of the Lord are upon those who
fear Him.' Do you feel the eyes of the Lord upon you because you hold
Him in awe? Explain.
Reflections
Psalm 90: 12-13, 14-15, 16-17 (Read)
“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 (Wisdom 7:7-9), so too
do we see the advantage of using our time
wisely by doing the Lord's will.
Although we may never receive the wisdom
of Solomon that this Sunday's first reading
talks about, 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 comes from the Word – “The Word of God is sharper
than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between
soul and spirit, joints and marrow." (Hebrews 4:12)
Scripture teaches us that the Word will give us a
correct view of life, and this will allow us to have
a right relationship with the Lord. Having got 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. The Psalm speaks about using our time wisely. Tell of how you set
your priorities so that you are serving God and doing His will.
2. Our psalmist talks of how we may gain 'wisdom of heart.' Give an example
of how you are receiving wisdom to discern a correct view of life so that you
will not offend
the Lord.
