Psalm 145: 10-11, 15-18

The responsorial psalm for this week is a hymn of praise of the greatness of God. The full psalm is in acrostic form, meaning that every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

The five psalms that precede this one (Psalms 140-144) are all petitionary prayers; this psalm and the five that follow it (the last six psalms in the Book of Psalms) are all hymns of praise. This shift underscores a movement from human need to divine worship, illustrating how the psalmist’s perspective evolves from asking for assistance to expressing gratitude and adoration.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,

A comprehensive call for praise. The works of the Lord include everything God has made as well as everything God has done, everything God has fashioned as well as everything God has accomplished.

and let your faithful ones bless you.

The faithful of the Lord are those who are holy (hāsîd), those who are bound to God in covenant loyalty. They are summoned to bless the Lord, to praise or honor God in reverence and awe.

Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom

The depiction of the God of Israel as a monarch was consistent with the ancient Near Eastern idea that gods ruled as kings. For the Israelites, this imagery also emphasized God’s unique and unmatched authority compared to other deities. While other cultures had their pantheons of gods, Israel’s portrayal of God as the ultimate sovereign reinforced the monotheistic belief in a single, all-powerful ruler who reigns supreme over all creation.

The word used here for glory (kābôd) means “heavy” or “weighty,” implying that God’s kingdom is vast but also substantial, distinguished in its magnitude and splendor.

and speak of your might.

The faithful recount God’s mighty deeds, which include delivering them from bondage, providing for them in their need, establishing them as a people, and giving them security and prosperity.

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 speaks directly to God, praising his providence.

With vivid imagery, the psalmist describes the universal dependence on God. Every creature, conscious or not, depends on God for sustenance and existence.

The image of the hand of the Lord feeding us 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’s kingdom is one of justice (sedeq). God’s actions and decisions reflect his fairness and righteousness.

The LORD is near to all who call upon him,

God is accessible and responsive to those who earnestly seek his presence and guidance.

to all who call upon him in truth.

God is especially close to those who call on him in truth (ěmet), that is, those who seek him sincerely and with genuine hearts.

As we meditate on these verses in the responsorial psalm, we are reminded of the abundant and holistic nature of God’s love, urging us to live in a way that reflects his virtues and trusts in his provision.