Psalm 145: 8-9, 15-18

The responsorial psalm for this week comes from Psalm 145, a hymn of praise for the greatness of God.

This passage beautifully aligns with the themes of God’s generosity, provision, and faithfulness found in our first reading, making it a very fitting responsorial psalm for today.

The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.

This is technical language from God’s covenant with Israel. God is described as gracious (hannûn), compassionate (rahûm), and filled with lovingkindness (hesed).

This correlates with how God described himself at his revelation to Moses in Exodus 34:6.

The LORD is good to all and compassionate toward all his works.

God’s goodness is not reserved for Israel alone; it encompasses all his creation. God’s mercy and compassion are unlimited and encompass everything he has made, displaying his care and concern for all living beings and nature itself.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season; you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The psalmist now turns and speaks directly to God, extolling his universal providence and acknowledging his sovereignty over creation.

With vivid imagery, the psalmist describes how reliant all creation is upon God. All creatures look to him for their sustenance, and he provides for them in the appropriate season. God is the ultimate provider.

Note that God is described as being openhanded in satisfying these needs. This image conveys the generosity and tender concern God has toward creation and the confidence creation has in God.

This image of God feeding us by hand is particularly poignant this Sunday, as we hear the gospel reading of the feeding of the five thousand.

The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth.

God’s kingdom is a kingdom of righteousness (sedeq).  He responds with kindness and salvation to all those who invoke him and love him.

Another characteristic of God’s covenant is truth (ěmet). In this context, ěmet refers to the unwavering trust and reliance of the faithful in God. They can place their trust in God because of his goodness and because of the solemn oath of the covenant.

The psalmist is highlighting God’s intimacy and accessibility to those who genuinely seek him. In order to experience the benefits of the divine covenant, one needs only to call upon God with faith — he is always there to hear.