Psalm 27:1,4,13-14
Our responsorial this week comes from Psalm 27, a psalm of trust in the Lord amid danger.
It echoes the first reading’s movement from darkness into light and complements the Gospel’s call to follow Jesus with courage and hope, trusting that God’s presence leads us safely forward.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?
The psalm opens with a confident declaration expressed through rhetorical questions. God is named as light, salvation, and refuge — images that portray strength, protection, and God’s active, saving presence in the psalmist’s life. Fear is dispelled not by circumstances, but by trust in who God is.
For Christians, this confident declaration of God as light and salvation finds its fullest meaning in Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World (John 8:12).
One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple.
This desire to dwell in the house of the LORD may refer to literally living in the temple, but it’s more likely a prayer for intimacy with God.
Gazing upon the Lord’s beauty suggests a contemplative posture — a life shaped by wonder, reverence, and delight in God.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living.
Here hope is firmly grounded in the present. The psalmist is confident that he will experience God’s abundant provisions, favor, and blessings now, in everyday life.
Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
The psalmist exhorts others to keep up their spirits in the midst of dangers and difficulties. To “wait” (qāwâ) is not passive resignation but courageous, hopeful perseverance — holding fast to trust in God.
Those who wait upon the Lord are strengthened, confident that God’s saving work will be revealed in due time.
Sunday Readings 