Psalm for Sunday, August 4, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 90:  3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 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, 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.  

(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? 

Psalm for Sunday, July 28, 2019

Reflections 

Psalm 138:  1-2, 2-3, 6-7, 7-8

 

Our psalmist David composed 

this prayer of a grateful heart.
“I will give thanks to you,
O Lord, with all my heart.”

David is grateful because his
petitions are answered by the Lord.
“For you have heard the words
of my mouth.”   The Lord's answers
to our psalmist's prayers have come
at a critical time,  a time when David
is seeking to build up his strength.

David speaks of a divine rescue --
“When I cried out, you answered;
you strengthened my spirit.”
Perhaps we’re all in need of a spiritual
rescue of the type David describes.

And it isn’t because of any of the
psalmist’s virtues that he obtains salvation.
It is a result of God’s loving fidelity.
“Lord, your love is eternal.”

Our Savior Jesus conveys a similar
teaching in this Sunday's Gospel,
“Ask and you will receive; seek and
you will find; knock and the door
will be opened to you.  For everyone
who asks, receives; and the one
who seeks, finds.”

Our God does not forsake the work
of His hands, though who has given
the Lord anything that he may be repaid?

Our psalmist reminds us—all God
has to do is stretch out his right hand,
and we will be saved.  “You stretch out
your hand, your right hand saves me.”

Unworthy as we are, and though the
Lord is exalted, He watches over us in
our lowly state.   And thanks be to God,
His kindness endures forever.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist affirms that God answers our needs, "Lord, on the day 

I called for help, you answered me."   Give an example of how your prayers have been answered at a critical time in your life.

2.  The Psalm reminds us that although the Lord is exalted, He sees the lowly.   What is it that gives you confidence that the Lord will not forsake you, even though He is exalted and you are among the lowly ones.

Psalm for Sunday, July 21, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 15:  2-3, 3-4, 5   (Read)

This Psalm of David begins with 
a familiar question,
“Who may dwell on your holy mountain?”

Fortunately for us, David gives us answers 
that serve as a lesson in how today's Christians 
are to behave if we are to dwell in God's Kingdom.

David says, “He who does justice will live in the
presence of the Lord.”  For us this can mean
whoever has a right relationship with the Lord
will inherit God's Kingdom.  Whoever loves God
with all his heart and loves his neighbor as himself
is not far from the Kingdom of heaven, as Jesus
affirms to the scribe in Mark 12:34.

Jesus was born to bring us the Kingdom and to personify
the Kingdom of God to us humans.  If we follow what
our psalmist prescribes, we will find that we are able
to live now in the Kingdom of God, here on earth.

David describes what separates us from God and
His Kingdom.  Our separation is caused by the
sinful things that we do and the harmful habits
that we acquire willfully.  This separation can only
be healed through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jesus  shows us that the Kingdom of God is 
at hand and can for us become a present reality,
inside of us and within our community.  Just as 
David did, we hunger for God's presence; we long
for His Kingdom. 

Fortunately for us, through the Eucharist we are able to
receive Jesus physically and spiritually and to live in
His Body as He lives in ours.   And having Jesus remain
in us as we remain in Him, we are able to make the 
Kingdom present to our family and our community.  

Our God intended for us to have a share in His own
divinity.  All we have to do is accept God's Son into 
our hearts and follow His teachings.  Then you 
and I will be not far from the Kingdom. We will have   
Jesus in our midst, and we will be able
to dwell on God's holy mountain.

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist David asks us once again, "Who may dwell on God's holy mountain?"  Drawing from the verses of the Psalm, speak of what you are doing to draw closer to God.

2.  The Psalm says that one who thinks the truth in his heart will live in the presence of the Lord.  Describe how you are making sure you have a pure heart so as to gain favor with God.

Psalm for Sunday, July 14, 2019

Reflections      
                        
Psalm 19: 8, 9, 10, 11   (Read)

“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul."   

This Sunday's Psalm celebrates the law of the Lord, first given to the Israelites when Moses received God's commandments on Mt Sinai. (Exodus 20:1-17)

More than a set of rules that we cannot hope to follow, God’s commandments give us wisdom; they ‘rejoice the heart.'  They are 'more desirable than gold, sweeter also than honey.’

Our psalmist David shows us that obeying 
the law does not prevent us from being happy.   
The Psalm speaks to us of the joy  that is 
stirred up in our hearts when we follow 
the Lord’s commands.  “The precepts of the 
Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.”

Obeying the law brings much reward.  If we are to imitate
the divine life, everything we need to know is found 
in God’s law.

We may think of God's statutes as something intended 
to control us or restrict us, but as our psalmist explains, 
the law of the Lord is in fact something to be desired, 
because the law gives us wisdom and provides us 
with something we can trust.

God's statutes endure forever.  It is through the verses 
of this Psalm that we know His law is a source of spiritual 
refreshment, a source of joy.  His statutes do not bind us;
they set us free.

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist says that the ordinances of the Lord are 'sweeter than honey.'   
How can it be that, instead of being harsh, the commandments of the Lord 
are sweet to the taste?  Explain.

2.  Our psalmist says that the commandments of the Lord are a source of joy --
they 'rejoice the heart.'   Tell about how obeying the commandments can be a 
source of joy in your life.

Psalm for Sunday, July 7, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 66:  1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20  (Read) 

"Come and see the works of God."

The Psalm celebrates the awesome power of God, manifest in 'His tremendous deeds among the children 
of Adam.'  Our psalmist 
recalls the dividing of the 
Red Sea, which delivered 
Israel from the Egyptians, 
through the favor of God.  
That same awesome 
power that split the Red 
Sea became available 
to the early apostles of 
the Church, as they went about 
healing and doing signs and wonders.
 
Where does the power come from to heal
the lame  and drive out unclean spirits?  
It comes from the Holy Spirit, who empowers 
each of us to become a healing force within 
our family and our community.  
No wonder those early believers were eager 
to go forth into the towns and become 
laborers for His harvest and to rejoice 
because their names were written in heaven.

We too cannot help but sing praise to God when
we feel His presence within us.  We proclaim
His glorious praise, and we on earth worship Him.
We want all to know what God has done for us,
as the Psalm says, so we 'cry out to God with joy.'
 
Amen
 

Discussion Questions for Reflection 
 
1.  Our Psalmist invites us to, "Come and see the works of God."  
Give an example of the awesome power of God in your life.

2.  The verses of the psalm say, "Blessed be God who refused me not."   
Tell of how the Lord has answered your plea and your prayer.

Psalm for Sunday, June 30, 2019

Reflections 

Psalm 16: 1-2, 5, 7, 8, 9-10, 11  (Read)

“With the Lord at my right hand,

I shall never be shaken.”

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 distress that afflicts us from time

to time when we feel separated from God

is overcome – “For you will not abandon 

my soul to the netherworld, nor let your 

faithful servant see the pit.”

We can understand the Psalm's

verses as a prophecy of the resurrection 

of Christ, 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.”

These same verses are quoted by 

St Peter in his speech to the Israelites 

at Pentecost. (Acts 2:25-28)

St Peter uses the Psalm 

as a prophecy that Jesus is to be 

raised up and will sit at the right 

hand of the Father. 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.  

“Therefore my heart is glad and my soul 

rejoices; my body, too, abides in confidence.” 

Our burdens are made light; 

His yoke is easy, and that gladdens the heart 

and strengthens the body. 

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Psalmist speaks confidently about his belief in an everlasting life with God.   

Speak of how you are confident about being raised up with the Lord and spending  

eternity in His presence.

2.  David says, "My Lord, you are my allotted portion and my cup."  Explain what 

these words mean to you.

Psalm for Sunday, June 23, 2019

Reflections

Psalm 110: 1, 2, 3, 4  (Read)

“The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right 

hand till I make your enemies your footstool.'”

Our psalmist David speaks of the Messiah 

who is to come.   For us, the psalm is about 

the anointing of Jesus as our Savior, Jesus 

as the everlasting King and Priest.  Christ 

will take his throne at the right hand of God, 

as our psalmist predicts.   Christ will make 

his enemies his footstool.  He is able to do 

this because the Father has empowered 

Him to rule over his enemies.

And how does Christ's victory affect us 

earthly humans?  The truth is that we too are 

in the midst of the same spiritual battle that 

Christ has already fought.   And his victory 

means for us that we can be victors as well 

– victors, not victims.  And for that, we praise

God and give thanks to our King.

This Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of 

the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ  (Corpus 

Christi).  How is it that Jesus, anointed as the 

everlasting King and Priest, humbled himself to 

pour out his blood on the cross for us common 

sinners?  How is it that such a mighty King is 

willing to co-mingle his very flesh and blood with 

our own fallen flesh and blood?  All we can know 

is that God's plan intends that his perfect divine 

presence enters into our fallen, human presence 

and offers healing, wisdom, salvation,and hope. 

(Word Among Us)

How blessed we are that although we are not worthy 

to receive Him, He gives us angels' food, bread from 

heaven – “He fed them with the finest wheat and 

satisfied them with honey from the rock.” (Ps 81:17)

Our Lord is both shepherd and lamb to us, his well 

tended flock. As the Paschal Lamb, He spilled his 

lifeblood for us, feeding us as God sent manna to 

our spiritual fathers.  “Very bread, good shepherd, 

tend us, Jesus, You who all things can and know,

Who on earth such food bestow.”  

(Sequence, Laud, O Zion)

How remarkable that our Lord, though seated 

at the right hand of the Father, comes down from

heaven so that we sinners might have a share in 

his divinity. “I am the living bread that came down 

from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread 

will live forever.” (Jn 6:51) 

We are inspired to offer our prayers of thanksgiving 

to our Lord --

“Grant O Lord, we pray,

that we may delight for all eternity

in that share in your divine life,

which is foreshadowed in the present age

by our reception of your precious Body and Blood.”

(Order of Mass, Prayer after Communion)

Amen

 

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm speaks of the anointing of Jesus as our Savior, who will rule 

in the midst of His enemies.  Tell of how you have relied on our Savior to fight 

your spiritual enemies on your behalf.

2.  With our Lord so powerful and seated at the right hand of the Father, does it 

surprise you that He would come down from heaven to mingle His precious body 

and blood with our human flesh and blood?  Explain