Psalm 104: 1-2, 24, 35b, 27-30

The responsorial psalm for our vigil is from Psalm 104, a nature hymn that praises God’s majesty and sovereign power.

Filled with lofty poeticism, it beautifully captures the role of the Holy Spirit in creation, renewal, and ongoing divine activity in the world.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

The psalms usually call others to praise God; here, the psalmist calls himself.

The Hebrew word that is translated “soul” (nephesh) comes from the word for breath. This term carries a range of meanings, including life-breath (or soul), life itself, and a living individual. In this context, nephesh likely refers to the innermost core of a person, the center of their very being.

In other words, the psalmist is calling upon every facet of their own existence to offer praise to God.

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed! You are clothed with majesty and glory, robed in light as with a cloak.

In the ancient Near East, divine glory was often depicted through radiant garments, as it is here.

God’s presence is revealed not by form, but by light, majestic and dazzling.

How manifold are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you have wrought them all — the earth is full of your creatures. Bless the LORD, O my soul! Alleluia.

The psalmist marvels at the sheer scale and intricacy of creation. Unlike human endeavors, God’s works are flawlessly crafted in wisdom. 

Creatures all look to you to give them food in due time. When you give it to them, they gather it; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

God is praised for his boundless providence, sustaining all living things.

If you take away their breath, they perish and return to their dust.

God is both Creator and Sustainer. Life and death follow his divine will.

When the breath of life leaves a creature, it returns to the dust it came from (Genesis 2:7, Job 12:10).

When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.

God not only creates but re-creates. The ongoing forces of nature constantly bring forth new life. When creatures die, new generations replace them, ensuring a continuous cycle of creation and renewal.

The face of the earth is renewed each day by the light of the sun, and from year to year by the fertility of the soil and the turning of the seasons. Creation is an ongoing event that we are privileged to witness.

God’s works are glorious indeed!