tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838698329757338280.post5371036585534142802..comments2017-12-01T10:52:19.431-08:00Comments on Sunday Bible Study by ParishWorld.net: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower."Editor @ Parishworld.nethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11351018547370080019noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6838698329757338280.post-69362970289896492882012-05-03T12:19:56.284-07:002012-05-03T12:19:56.284-07:00These verses form the conclusion of
a psalm that b...These verses form the conclusion of<br />a psalm that begins with the songs <br />of the suffering righteous man <br />(the Messiah himself <br />during the time of his Passion).<br />The earlier verses include what <br />Christ said to the Father when <br />he was nailed to the cross,<br />“My God, my God, <br />why have you abandoned me?”<br /><br />These final verses are more uplifting <br />and speak of the promise of salvation --<br />“The lowly shall eat their fill.” <br />(We who are poor in spirit are to live<br />life abundantly.) and<br />“May your hearts live forever!”<br />(We can count on the Lord for salvation.) <br /><br />And in these verses we are told that <br />the suffering of the righteous man <br />has brought about something good <br />in our human world.<br />“All the ends of the earth <br />will worship and turn to the Lord.”<br />“The generations to come …<br />will proclaim to a people yet unborn <br />the deliverance you have brought.”<br />Our hope returns in these final verses,<br />and we join with all the families of nations<br />in giving thanks to God,<br />who rules the world and dispenses justice.<br /> <br />Jesus says in today's Gospel,<br />“You can only bear fruit if you remain in me.”<br />And how do we remain in him?<br />The psalm says, “I will fulfill my vows <br />before those who fear the LORD.”<br />(We are to keep his commandments.)<br /><br />Finally, our psalmist commits to the Lord<br />that his descendants will serve Him,<br />“The generation to come will be told of the Lord.”<br />Here we are inspired by our 1st reading<br />where Barnabas reports that Saul<br />spoke out boldly in the name of Jesus.<br />What better way for us to bear fruit,<br />than to speak out boldly for our faith, <br />to our children and grandchildren.<br /><br />“To him my soul shall live.”<br />The Psalm ends with a reversal of<br />the righteous man's condition; <br />life is restored and the whole world<br />celebrates his deliverance.<br />What better Easter message is there than that?<br />And what more inspiring words for the early<br />Church as it reaches out to proclaim<br />the Gospel to the Gentiles.<br /><br />AmenBarry Lamontnoreply@blogger.com