Psalm Reflection: The Second Sunday of Advent - Cycle C

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” - Psalms 126

I believe that the ultimate test of any relationship is assembling IKEA furniture together. It tests a person’s ability to communicate, follow directions, work together, stay organized, and trust each other’s insights.

I loved legos as a child, so I naturally love assembling the adult version: furniture. There are few things more satisfying to me than unpacking all of the pieces, organizing them around the room and making everything come together step by step.

On the other hand, there is nothing worse than completing a project, only to realize you installed a piece backwards and the entire thing needs to be taken back apart to fix the problem.

I feel like that is sometimes how we feel when we hear words like this week’s Psalm: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” I can hear some people saying, “my life feels like it is falling apart, how can I possibly experience joy in the midst of all I am going through?”

Have you ever felt that way?

Do you feel like that today?

When our life is marked with trials, suffering, and loss, the anger and the pain can be overwhelming. Joy can feel like a distant memory or an impossible fantasy. We can cry out to God in our pain, or we can even blame him for it. It feels like the furniture is being taken apart, but sometimes it is only when our life is broken into pieces that God can rearrange them and build something better.

Remember.

That is the second most repeated command from God in the Bible (the first is “be not afraid”). God compels us to remember our own lives, and the lives of those in Scripture to recognize that He always has a plan to bring about the greatest possible good in our lives.

If you are in a season of trial, brokenness, pain or suffering, know that God has not forgotten about you. He has not abandoned you. Life may seem like it is falling apart, but He will take the pieces and build something beautiful.

There is some assembly required, and assembly takes time. Be patient and trust in the Lord. 

“At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing.” - Psalms 30:6b

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt

This reflection is based on the Responsorial Psalm for this Sunday, December 8th, 2024, The Second Sunday of Advent - Cycle C: Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6.