Psalm 25: 4-5, 8-10, 14

The responsorial psalm for this week is from Psalm 25, a prayer for forgiveness and guidance, written in acrostic form.

This psalm calls to mind the fact that God’s saving action requires a response. Having been saved, what responsibilities do we now have? How should we live so as not to fall back into the situation from which we were saved? If God is just, what kind of lives should we be living? The psalmist’s answer comes in the form of a petition to God: Teach me your ways.

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;

The passage opens with a request for divine guidance.

The word “way” has a very close association with the Wisdom tradition and refers to a manner of living, specifically the way of righteousness or the way of evil. The term often designates movement or direction on a road rather than the road itself.

teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior

“Path” appears in parallel construction with “way,” for emphasis.

The repeated request for God to “make known,” “teach,” and “guide” reflects the psalmist’s humility and willingness to submit to God’s will.

and for you I wait all the day. 

Waiting “all the day” highlights patience and a trusting attitude, a fitting theme for Advent as a season of hopeful anticipation.

Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way.

This psalmist proclaims the righteousness of God, who is attentive to both the sinners and anawim (the humble). These groups are seen on the same plane: the humble person is one who acknowledges his sin to the Lord.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

The paths of the Lord promise the blessings of covenantal lovingkindness (hesed) and truth or constancy (’emet).

The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction. 

This verse captures the intimacy of a faithful relationship with God.

The Hebrew term sôd (“friendship” or “trusting counsel”) can be understood as confidential closeness or divine favor. Its root meaning signifies being invited into God’s inner circle, where he reveals his will, wisdom, and covenantal promises.

This is the kind of friendship that will be enjoyed by those who fear the Lord. Such fear is not an attitude of dread and trembling, but one of awe in the presence of the majesty of God. Any trepidation experienced by a friend of the Lord stems more from reverence and wonder than from terror.