Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34

Our responsorial this week comes from Psalm 119, which is the longest psalm in Scripture and a sustained meditation on the beauty, wisdom, and life‑giving power of God’s law. Every line expresses a desire to walk faithfully in God’s ways, trusting that his commandments are not burdens but the path to true freedom and joy.

This theme resonates directly with the first reading from Sirach, where Israel is reminded that God’s commandments place before us life and death, and that choosing his ways leads to flourishing.

In its entirety, the psalm is acrostic: its twenty-two stanzas of eight verses each are in the order of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses within a stanza begins with the same letter, and nearly every verse contains a synonym for “instruction” (tôrâ).  The creative genius of the psalmist is evident in the innovative ways the Law is extolled, with each verse expressing a slightly different idea. Continue reading “Psalm for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)” →