Psalm 122:1-9

Our responsorial this week comes from Psalm 122, which is a joyful song of pilgrimage to Jerusalem — the city of peace and the dwelling place of God.

Like our other readings this week, this psalm reminds us that Advent is not static waiting but a hopeful journey toward the peace and presence of God.

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.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May those who love you prosper! May peace be within your walls, prosperity in your buildings. Because of my brothers and friends I will say, “Peace be within you!”

The psalmist invites all to intercede for Jerusalem’s peace.

The Hebrew shālôm signifies not merely the absence of conflict but the fullness of well-being, harmony, and divine blessing. To pray for Jerusalem’s peace is to desire the flourishing of all who dwell in communion with God.

Fittingly, the name Jerusalem is believed to contain the root shalem, closely related to shālôm. Thus, the very name of the city echoes the prayer it inspires: that God’s dwelling place be marked by completeness, unity, and enduring peace.

Because of the house of the LORD, our God, I will pray for your good.

The psalm closes as it began, with the Temple, the dwelling place of the Lord, as the city’s true source of peace and security. Jerusalem’s greatness comes not from its walls or strength but from God’s abiding presence within it.

In the context of Advent, this psalm voices the pilgrim joy and longing of all believers journeying toward the Kingdom of God revealed in Christ. As we “go up to the house of the Lord,” we pray for peace and unity, awaiting the day when God’s dwelling will be complete among us.