Psalm 112:4-9
Our responsorial this week comes from Psalm 112, a Wisdom psalm detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God.
The psalm portrays the righteous as a steady light in the darkness, beautifully echoing our first reading, where God tells Israel that their light ”shall break forth like the dawn” when they care for the oppressed, share bread with the hungry, and remove injustice from their midst.
The Gospel reinforces this same vocation as Jesus tells his disciples: “You are the light of the world.”
Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. All goes well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.
The psalm sets before us an ideal of the righteous person — one whose life reflects God’s own attributes. The upright (yāshār) are described as gracious (hannûn), merciful (rahûm), and just (saddîq), qualities that Scripture consistently associates with the Lord Himself.
Their conduct becomes a living witness to the God they serve.
He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
Those who remain rooted in God receive gifts that flow from covenant fidelity.
Their freedom from fear is not stoic self‑reliance but the fruit of a heart anchored in trust.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
The psalm hints that the righteous may face opposition or social disgrace — serious threats in an honor‑shame culture where communal standing shaped one’s safety and livelihood. Yet the just person refuses to be ruled by such pressures, because confidence in God outweighs the judgments of others.
Lavishly he gives to the poor; his justice shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory.
The upright mirror God’s own justice by extending mercy to those in need, and in doing so, their righteousness takes on a lasting, God‑given dignity.
Their lives become a visible witness: they mirror the nature of the God with whom they are in covenant.
Sunday Readings 