Italy- Psalm 84 that the liturgy offers us today refers to the days immediately following the liberation from exile granted by Cyrus in 538 BC, and to the first difficulties encountered by the returnees in their homeland.
- The beginning of the Psalm is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving for the return from exile and for the forgiveness of past sins. However, many difficulties remain to be overcome, and here is the ardent supplication to God to bring his plan of salvation to completion.
- In response to this prayer, and as an encouragement to tired and disheartened souls, a prophetic voice rises in the third part announcing a message from God: a message of peace, mercy, truth, and justice: “I will listen to what God, the Lord, says: he announces peace for his people, for his faithful, for those who return to him with trust. Yes, his salvation is near to those who fear him, so that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and truth will meet, justice and peace will kiss” (vv. 9-11). But above all, God promises to resume his place among the people, to walk with humanity: “Truth will sprout from the earth and justice will look down from heaven. Certainly, the Lord will grant his goodness…; justice will walk before him: his steps will trace the path” (vv. 12-14). Jesus is the “Justice of God” (Rom 3:21-25), that is, the highest expression of God who relates to us, even becoming one of us, becoming incarnate, entering our history. This is the secret of: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”, which we will also find in Sunday’s Gospel, which will speak to us of Jesus who calms the storm and frees us, with his presence, from every fear and anguish.
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Psalm XXVIII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
8 October 2026