Psalm 122:1-5

Our responsorial this week comes from Psalm 122, which is a joyful song of pilgrimage celebrating Jerusalem as the holy city where God dwells and where his people gather to give thanks.

On this Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, the psalm points us to the heavenly Jerusalem — Christ’s eternal kingdom — where justice and peace flow from His sovereign rule over all creation.

I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was more than Israel’s capital, it was the dwelling place of God among his people. To ascend to the Temple was both a pilgrimage and a privilege, a chance to stand in the presence of the Lord and share in the joy of worship.

Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. 

The city of Jerusalem was itself something to behold. Set high on Mount Zion, visible from afar, the city stood as a sign of divine protection and stability.

To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD. According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David.

Jerusalem is a place of encounter, where the people praise God and hear the divine justice mediated by the king. Thus, Jerusalem was both the religious and moral center of Israel — the place where worship and governance met under God’s authority. When one went to Jerusalem, one was visiting the center of every facet of Jewish life. This was truly the chosen city.

It’s no wonder Jerusalem became a symbol of the reign of God.