Psalm for Sunday, January 21, 2024

Reflections                                                                               

Psalm 25:  4-5, 6-7, 8-9   (Read)

“Good and upright is the Lord, who shows sinners the way.”  
  
 












We are blessed to have a God who does not disregard us.  
On the contrary, He is a caring, compassionate God, 
willing to humble Himself to share in our humanity, so that 
we might share in His divinity.  Who else would have such 
regard for sinners, for believers who disobey Him?

Our psalmist David humbly offers up his sins to God 
his Savior, and waits for God’s guidance. “The Lord guides 
the humble rightly, and teaches the humble His way.”

In today's Gospel the early disciples leave their nets 
and their families behind when Jesus calls out 
to them. (Mark 1:16-20)   Jesus had a plan for His 
disciples, when He singled them out to serve Him. 
God had a plan for Jonah as well (1st reading);
his mission was to warn the people of Nineveh
to repent and turn to the Lord.  (Jonah 3: 1-5)

St Paul, in our 2nd reading, has a similar message for 
all of us, that time is running out and any day now 
would be an acceptable day for us to focus on our own 
salvation. (1 Corinthians 7: 29-31)   The Lord is there 
to guide us, as He was in the days of David, our psalmist.

Whether it's through a Jonah in our midst or a Saint Paul,
the message of the Lord is clear – “Repent and believe 
in the Gospel.”  We may not be able to do this on our own,
but as our psalmist says, “The Lord shows sinners the way.”

The Lord is talking to all of us here; we are all sinners.
We are all able to benefit from the healing power of Jesus.
And where does the power come from to turn away from sin? 
It comes from the Lord,  It is He who encourages us when 
our tongues confess, “Remember no more the sins of my youth; 
remember me only in light of your love.” 

Amen 

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist petitions the Lord, 'Teach me your ways.'  
How do you go about learning the ways of the Lord?  Tell how 
the verses of the Psalm help you understand the ways of the Lord.

2.  Our Psalm says the Lord 'shows sinners the way.'  Give an example of how you have been guided by the Lord to turn away from sin and repent.

Psalm for Sunday, January 14, 2024

Reflections

Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10   (Read)

“Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.”

The Psalm is a prayer of gratitude
and of obedience to the Lord.
Our psalmist David answers God’s call
when he says, “Here I am.” 
Young Samuel does the same
in our first reading. 
Samuel waits expectantly 
for the Lord to speak to him – 
he is ‘all ears’ 
when he hears the Lord’s voice.

He grows up serving the Lord
and following God. (1 Samuel 3: 3-10,19)

Our psalmist says,
“He put a new song into my mouth.”
For us too it is no longer the same old tune
or the same old we.   We are in fact 
a new creation, singing out the good news.

Where does our joyful spirit come from?
It comes from the Lord, and we are called
to share what He has given us and to do
His will, which is our delight.

In the Gospel reading (John 1:35-42),
Andrew recognizes Jesus as the anointed
and is drawn to Him.
Andrew and  his brother Simon 
truly become members of Christ's body.
They are joined to the Lord 
and have become one spirit with Him,
as St. Paul proclaims in our 2nd reading. 

(1 Corinthians 6:15,17)

We too are called to follow Christ
and to do His will.
Obedience isn’t an unpleasant chore for us;
instead as the Psalm tells us, 
“To do your will is my delight.”

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  In this beautiful Psalm our psalmist speaks of waiting, waiting for the Lord.   
Tell what it means to you to have waited for the Lord, and what has been the result of your presenting yourself to the Lord?

2.  Our psalmist is delighted to do God's will; he says to God, "Your law is within my heart!"   Have you also felt the Lord's pleasure when you obey Him and serve Him?  What does it mean to you to say God's law is within my heart?


  

Psalm for Sunday, January 7, 2024

Reflections 

Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13   (Read)

“Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

 

The Psalm is a prayer for our newborn King,

a Messiah who will be like the “rain coming 

down upon the fields, like showers watering 

the earth.”  Our psalmist prays that our 

newborn King will be anointed by God with 

divine judgment and empowered to rule the earth.

The prophet Isaiah in Sunday's first reading 

predicts that the light of the Lord will cause 

our hearts to overflow, and the riches of the sea 

to be emptied out before us. (Isaiah 60:5) 

Our psalmist also speaks of abundance 

that will flourish in the King's days. 

But the Messiah is among us, to do more than 

bless us materially; the Savior has come to make

our burdens easy, to share our afflictions. 

“The lives of the poor He shall save.”

We see the light, just as the prophet Isaiah said 

we would.  (Isaiah 60:1) 

In the Psalm, the mystery is revealed 

to us, poor in spirit though we are:

“He rescues the poor when they cry out [as we do],

the afflicted who have no one to help.”

This is what our Good Shepherd Jesus is sent to do, 

to shepherd God’s people. This is why we join the 

Magi in paying homage to our newborn King, and 

join with our psalmist in singing,

"Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.”

Amen

 
Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  Our psalmist mentions 'afflicted ones' and 'the afflicted' in two 

of the Psalm's verses.  Are there times when you can identify yourself 

as an 'afflicted' one?   Tell what remedies are available to you that are 

mentioned in the Psalm.

2.  The Psalm says, 'Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.'   

Using the verses of the Psalm, explain why 'all kings' would want 

to pay homage to our Lord.

Psalm for Sunday, December 31, 2023

Reflections

Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5  (Read)

“Blessed are those who fear the Lord
and walk in His ways!”

The Psalm affirms that the blessings 
for those who fear the Lord are 
to be found in the recesses of our 
homes, in the ordinary joys of family.

The worthy wife is valued in the Psalm 
as a fruitful vine because she blesses 
her home and family with the gift 
of her handiwork.  As shown in the Gospel
she uses wisely what is given her as 
her way of obeying the Lord and 
holding Him in awe. 

“Just so will they be blessed 
who fear the Lord.”

If we fear the Lord and walk in His 
ways, we will receive the blessings 
of our labor, prosper, and grow old 
gracefully in the company of our 
wife and children.

Amen

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm assures us that we will be favored by the Lord, 
if we walk in His ways.  Speak of how you have been blessed 
by obeying the Lord and holding Him in awe.

2.  Our psalmist tells of a worthy wife who uses wisely what 
she has been given.  Give an example of how you have used 
your God-given talent to serve your family or your community.
 

Psalm for Sunday, December 24, 2023

Reflections

Psalm 89: 2-3, 4-5, 27, 29   (Read)

" I have made a covenant with my chosen one."

This Sunday's Psalm sings about God’s  
promises to Israel and God's covenant 
with David.  "I have made a covenant 
with my chosen one."  That same divine 
selection is celebrated in Sunday's  
first reading that tells the story of how David was taken from pasturing sheep to become Israel’s commander.  (2 Samuel 7:8)

Our psalmist quotes the Lord, “I have sworn to 
David my servant: Forever will I confirm your posterity
and establish your throne for all generations.”

And how does this young shepherd boy rise to 
greatness in Israel? He succeeds because he has 
found favor with God, and God will be the source of his 
strength.  This is the same divine strength that St Paul 
tells us is available to each of us, if we believe and 
have faith. (Romans 16:25)

But it isn’t a one way street with the Lord. David is 
to show us that we must give glory to God.  He cries out,
“You are my Father, my God, the Rock, my Savior.”

Mary also finds favor with God and is anointed to be 
the Blessed Mother of our Lord Jesus.  She too responds
by giving glory to God in this week’s Gospel.  (Luke 1:38)

The Lord’s covenant with David stands firm, and it is 
through God’s promise to David that the Messiah is 
born of Mary. “Forever, I will maintain my love for David;
my covenant with him stands firm.” That promise 
to David is fulfilled in the birth of our Savior and for that 
we too must give glory to God.

Amen
 

Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  David is to call out to the Lord, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.'  We too are inspired to cry out to God in a similar way. Tell of the times when you have felt like crying out to God in worship and praise.

2.  Our Psalm response is, 'Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.'  One reason to sing of the Lord's goodness is because His promises are trustworthy.  Describe how you have relied on the promises of the Lord in your journey.

Psalm for Sunday, December 17, 2023

Reflections  

Luke 1: 46-48, 49-50, 53-54  (Read)

“My soul rejoices in my God.”  

Our Blessed Mother Mary speaks this hymn 
of praise to God in the words of a humble servant,
“For He has looked upon his lowly handmaid.”

Despite her position as God’s chosen instrument, 
Mary does not exalt herself; she exalts God 
the Father as she professes her Magnificat.
Her soul “proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”
She glorifies the Lord, “The Almighty has done
great things for me.”  Mary is truly God’s anointed
one, and the spirit of the Lord is upon her. 
She “rejoices heartily in the Lord.” 

We too are God’s lowly creatures, and Mary inspires
us to expect the Lord will do great things for us as well.
We too should expect to be singled out by the Lord 
to do His work.  This is our food (to do the Lord’s work)
just as it was for Jesus the Son.

Mary testifies to the light, as does John the Baptist in 
our Gospel reading.  (John 1: 8)
Because of Mary’s faith, the Old Testament 
promises are fulfilled, and the tide is turned. 
As our Blessed Mother says, the hungry (that is who we are) 
are filled with good things. 

Amen 


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.    Mary declares that God has filled the 'hungry' with good things.  
Do you consider yourself one of the hungry ones? And if so, in what way 
has the Lord fed you with good things?

2.   Our Blessed Mother says, "The Almighty has done great things for me."  
In what way do you also believe that God has done great things for you, 
and how have you responded?

Psalm for Sunday, December 10, 2023

Reflections

Psalm 85:  9-10, 11-12, 13-14   (Read)

"Near indeed is His salvation." 

 












The Psalm is a prayer that God
will grant mercy and forgiveness
to the Israelites, and by extension
we are told that our own salvation 
is near.  “The Lord proclaims peace 
to His people, glory dwelling in our land.”

The Prophet Isaiah tells us in today's 
1st reading, our God declares, “Give 
comfort to my people.”  And Zion is told,
“Cry out at the top of your voice;
here is your God!"  (Isaiah 40:1,6,9)

The Psalm is a promise of salvation.
“Near indeed is salvation for those 
who fear Him.”  St Peter too affirms
that the Lord does not delay in keeping His
promise in today's 2nd reading.  (2 Peter 3:9)

And what should we expect?
Nothing less than the coming of the Messiah
himself.  Our psalmist affirms, “Truth will spring
from the earth,” and for us this takes place
when the Messiah is born.

The psalmist prepares the way of the Lord,
as does John the Baptist in this week's Gospel.
As the Psalm says, “Justice shall walk before 
Him and prepare the way of His steps.”

Amen


Discussion Questions for Reflection

1.  The Psalm says, "Truth shall spring out of the earth."  For us this verse 
foretells the coming of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.  What else about 
the Psalm prepares us for the birth of our Savior?

2.  Our psalmist says, "I will hear what God proclaims."  This verse can be seen 
as a reminder to study the Word of the Lord.  Explain how your study of the Word 
is strengthening your faith.