All the ends of the Earth have seen the saving power of God!
I don’t know about you, but the refrain of today’s responsorial psalm makes my heart sing for joy. All the ends of the Earth have in fact seen the saving power of God. We remembered this again just over a week ago; when God’s saving power came in the form of a small, helpless infant. Not at all what the people of the time expected in their Messiah, who was to come in glory and rule the Earth from Jerusalem., But our God is a God of miracles and often does amazing things with the little we give Him to work with.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wondrous deeds
Yes, the Lord has done wondrous deeds for all to see. He led His people out of Egypt with signs and wonders and miracles. Jesus grew to manhood and went about Israel healing the sick and raising the dead. These signs and wonders are still occurring today all around us, if only we have the eyes to see them. What wonderful deeds did God do for you during the last year? Was a broken relationship healed? Were you, or someone you love, healed of an illness? Did you receive a new home, a new job? Best of all, did your relationship with Christ become deeper? These are all gifts from Him, and give us great joy.
His right hand has won victory for Him, His holy arm
But perhaps as we start this new year there are some areas in our lives that still await the saving power of God. The new job has not yet materialized, and we are more than anxious about the future. Or perhaps the illness is chronic, the relationship still not healed. Keep on surrendering these situations to Christ and take His hand as He leads you forward. Through His cross and resurrection He has already won the victory. It may not look like what we expect it to appear or come as soon as we would like, but it will come. Let us pick up our cross and follow our Lord, for His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
Sing joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; break into song; sing praise!
Do small things with great love and Christ will make them great. If we can remember to sing and praise God for all the things in our lives that are good, it will become much easier to carry the crosses that still belong to us. We will remember that God does in fact love us, and His plans for us are for our good, not for our harm. Remember the stories of the exodus, of Samuel and David, the imprisoned apostles and how God delivered them. We cannot escape the trials of life, but they are not meant for our punishment, but to school us in virtue. He will deliver us too, just as He promised.
All the ends of the Earth have seen the saving power of God!
Carol Ann Chybowski
Carol Ann Chybowski is a long time member of the Catholic Writers Guild. She has published book reviews at various websites and appears in two volumes of A Community of Voices: An Anthology of Santa Barbara. When not busy about her parish, Carol Ann can be found knitting, gardening, or on horseback.
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