Psalm for Sunday, November 27, 2022

Reflections

Psalm 122:  1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9  (Read)

“I rejoiced when they said to me, 

'Let us go up to the house of the Lord.”

This Sunday we revisit this Psalm that sings of a 

spiritual journey to the house of the Lord, the holy 

city of Jerusalem.  In Sunday’s first reading the 

prophet Isaiah also speaks about a journey to Zion, 

to the house of God, and to God’s holy mountain. 

(Isaiah 2: 2-3)   We too are called to make that 

same journey, that we may walk in His paths. 

Our psalmist says, “Our feet are standing within 

your gates, Jerusalem.” 

But why are we called to make that journey?

Firstly, we stand with the Israelites who already 

dream of gathering together at some future time.

But secondly, for us as Christians, the psalm is a 

vision of the end times, when our spiritual 

pilgrimage leads us from earth to heaven.

Our psalmist says we are called to give thanks 

to the name of the Lord, but we note also there 

are set up judgment seats at our destination.

For our journey ends where God resides, His 

kingdom of heaven, and we must be prepared 

to be in His presence. 

St Paul, in Sunday’s second reading,

cautions us to throw off the works of darkness, 

and to put on the armor of light, to conduct 

ourselves properly as in the day, to put on the

Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 13: 12-14)

Jesus himself says in this  Sunday's Gospel ,

“You must be prepared, for at an hour you do 

 not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

(Matthew 24:44)

Jerusalem in the Psalm symbolizes for us the 

end of our journey, being present with the Lord. 

This is what God has planned for His people --

When we arrive in God's holy city, the kingdom 

of God will come to us in its fullness, and we will 

live in peace. As the psalmist tells us, we will be 

filled with a desire to say, "Peace be with you.”

I will pray for your good.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

  
1.  As we begin a new season of Advent, the Psalm  encourages us to be prepared 

for the time when we  will be in God's kingdom and He will be present to us.   Speak about what you are doing to prepare yourself  to be in God's holy city.

2.  As we prepare to receive the Prince of Peace within  our midst, our psalmist asks 

us to pray for peace within  the walls of the holy city and within ourselves.  What are  you doing to ensure that you have peace within you and  how are you conveying your 

peace to others around you?

Psalm for Sunday, November 20, 2022

Reflections 

 

Psalm 122:  1-2, 3-4, 4-5  (Read)

“We will go up to the house of the Lord.”

 The Psalm is about a pilgrimage to the holy 
 city of Jerusalem. “Let us go to the house 
 of the Lord.” And for us it may also be about 
 a spiritual journey that we must embark 
 upon if we are to enter the Lord’s kingdom
 and be present to the King of Kings.

For us the way is clear – we have only to 

follow God’s beloved son, our Savior.

For just as God chose David to be the 
shepherd for his chosen people (2 Samuel 5:2),
so God chose his son Jesus to lead us to 
redemption. And as St Paul says, the Father 

saw to it that we would be transferred

to the kingdom of his beloved Son. (Colossians 1:13,14)

The gate is narrow, but as the psalmist says, 
“And now our feet are standing within your 
gates, Jerusalem.” Now we too have a share 
in Christ’s inheritance.

And what draws us to make the journey 
through the narrow gate? We seek to be with 
the Lord, just as did St Dismas, the thief who
was crucified with Jesus on Calvary. 
Sunday’s Gospel quotes St Dismas
when he says, “Jesus, remember me when you 
come into your kingdom.” 
The Lord replies, “Today you will be with me
in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

This is our goal, too – to complete that pilgrimage 
the psalmist speaks about, to reach that 
holy city where are the “thrones of justice, the 
thrones of the house of David.”

Jerusalem in the Psalm symbolizes for us 
the end of our journey, being present with the Lord.
This is what God has planned for his people.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our Psalm speaks of a journey to the Lord's kingdom.   What progress are you
making along the way on your own  journey to the Lord's holy city?

2.  The psalmist mentions that he has set foot within the gates of Jerusalem.
Describe your decision to walk the walk and go through the narrow gate that leads
to redemption and a share in our Lord's inheritance.

Psalm for Sunday, November 13, 2022

 Reflections

Psalm 98:  5-6, 7-8, 9  (Read)

“The Lord comes to govern the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.” 

The Psalm is about the coming of God, 
and the promise is made that when the Lord 
comes, he will govern the earth with justice.

Scripture teaches us that we do not know when 
the Lord will come, and we are warned to be ready 
because it may happen like a thief in the night.
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus speaks about the 
day of judgment, when awesome sights and mighty 
signs will come from the sky and when the disciples 
will be hated by all because of His name.

Although the Psalm is about the joy of the Lord’s 
coming, there may be reason for anxiety on our part.
The Book of Malachi warns us that the day is coming
when evildoers will be set on fire and become stubble.

Should we be afraid of the Lord’s judgment?
One thing is sure—we need to be ready, to prepare
to face the arrival of God.   We do not know when that
day may come;  some in our generation doubt that
day will come at all.   For those who have put their
trust in the Lord, and attempted to apply His teachings
toward others they meet in the course of their day,
there will be rejoicing and praise.  For others who 
have slacked off and found fault with their neighbors
and have not lifted a helping hand, shame and destruction
may be at hand.  After all, we are called to be caregivers; 
we are indeed our brother’s keeper.

“The Lord comes to govern the earth.” 
We may not always welcome someone who comes 
to rule over us.  Or to judge us.  But the Lord brings 
His “healing rays.”   He is after all the “sun of justice.” 
The Book of Malachi assures us that if we fear the Lord,
“The sun of justice will arise with its healing rays.”

There is hope for us, as we struggle not to be idle, 
and face those who hate us because of our faith.
Our Lord liberates us from whatever holds us back 
or drags us down.  And we kick up our heels like 
“calves being released from the stall.”

The Psalm repeatedly tells us to be joyful about 
the Lord’s coming; to sing praise to the Lord;
to shout with joy to the Lord.  We join with our 
surroundings, “Let the rivers clap their hands, 
the mountains shout with them for joy.” 

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm speaks about the Day of the Lord,
when He will come to rule the earth with justice.
Are you ready for the Lord's coming?   Speak about
how you are preparing for it.

2.  Our psalmist writes about those who dwell 
in the world shouting for joy before the Lord,
when He comes to rule the earth.   Explain how you
will sing praise to the Lord and sing joyfully before
the King, the Lord.

 

Psalm for Sunday, November 6, 2022

Reflections
 

Psalm 17:  1, 5-6, 8, 15  (Read)

“Hear, O Lord a just suit; attend to my outcry."                                                   

  
We all may have been unjustly attacked 
at one time or another, as our psalmist 
David was, and as were the seven brothers 
mentioned in the 2nd Book of Maccabees.  

When that happens, where do we hide?  

Where do we take refuge? 

Who else but the Lord stands ready to 
console us, protect us “in the shadow of 
His wings?”   Our psalmist reminds us 
that without God we can do nothing,
and it is He who empowers us to prevail. 

And so we trust God, as David does;
we call upon Him, and we cling to Him.  
We are not hesitant to call upon His name, 
“I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; 
incline your ear to me; hear my word.”    
For His part, God keeps us as the “apple of 
His eye.”   He attends to our outcry;
He hearkens to our prayers, so long as 
our lips are without deceit.

And when we face death, whose face do we 
want to see?  It is the Lord's -- “Let me see 
your face;  when I awake, let me be filled 
with your presence.”  Who else has promised 
us eternal life?  

We must not be afraid to trust God for the 
outcome.  All we have to do is to keep to His 
paths, as our psalmist says.  Our feet do not falter. 
As David did, we call upon the Lord. 
As was true for David, we shall be content in
His presence.  

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist says that his steps have kept to 
the Lord's paths, his feet have not faltered.   Explain how 
you have 'walked the walk' in the pathways of the Lord.

2.  The Psalm speaks of how we shall be content in God's 
presence.   Tell of what it means to you to look forward
to the day when you shall behold God's face.

Psalm for Sunday, October 30, 2022

Reflections
                                                                                               

Psalm 145:  1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13. 14  (Read)

“The Lord lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.”                                             

We may question why God allows us 

to suffer, why he allows “bad things to happen to good people.”   

We may ask, as the early believers 

probably did,  “Why is it necessary to undergo such hardships to enter the 

kingdom of God?” 

Scripture tells us that afflictions are 

to be expected in our walk with the 

Lord.  We may not understand what 

God is up to, but we can be sure
that our faith will be strengthened 

if we stand fast in the face of suffering.  

We will become better witnesses for Christ 

if we are humbled; we become better servants 

if we bear up with our difficulties and trust 

in the Lord.  As our psalmist tells us, 
“The Lord is trustworthy in every word, and
faithful in every work.”

Endurance is a Godly quality and will help us
to get 'yoked' to Jesus.   Having done that, together
with our psalmist David, we join with the faithful
and speak of the glory of God's reign and bless
His name.

The book of Wisdom tells us that God loves all
things He has created, and loathes nothing He
has made.  David says it this way, “The Lord is
good to all and compassionate toward all His works.”
This verse is fulfilled in Sunday's Gospel –
Zacchaeus could just as well sing this psalm,
“I will praise your name forever, my king and my God.”

When we reflect on what God has done for us,
we remember that we live our lives amidst an
unending stream of divine love.  God has always
done good things for us.  That is God's nature –
as the Psalm says, “The Lord is gracious and merciful
and of great kindness.”

And so we pray this psalm to bless, praise, and exalt
the heavenly Father in His perfection and in His works.
“Great is the Lord and highly to be praised.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist asks us (His faithful ones) to speak of God's might and discourse of the glory of God's kingdom.  Give an example of how you have complied with our psalmist's appeals.

2.  We are assured by the Psalm that the Lord lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.  Share how your faith has been strengthened by any hardships you may have undergone.

Psalm for Sunday, October 23, 2022

Reflections 

Psalm 34: 2-3, 17-18, 19, 23   (Read)

“Those who are crushed in spirit He saves.”

David's psalm assures us, 

“The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”

The word poor is said to apply to one

who depends completely on God

for his deliverance and his very life.

This is true for David as he is being 

pursued by his enemy. It is true for us

in our own personal battle against the 

evil one. With God on our side victory 

is certain. “The Lord confronts the 

evildoers, to destroy remembrance 

of them from the earth.” 

St Paul is rescued from the lion's mouth 

and is empowered by the Lord to finish 

the race, to keep the faith, to complete 

the proclamation. In his own words, 

“The Lord stood by me and gave me 

strength.”  (2 Timothy 4: 6-8, 17)

David affirms this, “The Lord redeems 

the lives of His servants; no one incurs 

guilt who takes refuge in Him.”

The Psalm says our prayers are heard 

if we have a right relationship with the Lord, 

“When the just cry out, the Lord hears them.” 

This is confirmed by the writer of Sirach -- 

“The one who serves God willingly is heard; 

his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer 

of the lowly pierces the clouds.” (Sirach 35: 20-21)

Jesus teaches us in this Sunday’s Gospel, 

“The one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

The tax collector preserves his relationship with 

God and goes home justified. (Luke 18: 13-14)

That too is part of being poor in spirit. If we want 

the Lord to be on our side, then we need 

to humble ourselves and recognize

our own lowly status.

And having done all that we can to keep a just 

relationship with our God, then we are to bless 

the Lord at all times, keep his praise ever in our 

mouths, and as the psalm says, “Let my soul 

glory in the Lord.”

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm tells us that God lifts up those who are crushed in spirit.  

However difficult it may be for us to be humble in spirit,  we can speak 

of how gratifying it is for us to depend solely on the Lord for our salvation.   

Tell of what this means to you personally.

2.   The verses of the Psalm tell us how to be sure that our prayers are heard.  

Our psalmist encourages us to have a right relationship with the Lord before 

we pray.  What is it that you do to be sure that  your prayers reach the ears 

of the Lord?