Day 9: Psalm 128

Psalm 128 is one that considers the blessings that come from following the commandments of the Lord. It also anticipates the blessing to be given in the Temple by the priest or Levite. It begins with wisdom statement: Blessed are those who fear the Lord. From this the blessings that come from it in the form of happiness in the family. This is seen in having enough to live on, and peace between parents and children. All this comes about due to the blessing that comes for the Fear of the Lord.

The Fear of the Lord can be seen in many different ways. The Australian Trappist monk, Fr. Michael Casey, defines it not in terms of being frighten or terrified; rather it is a seriousness that comes with following the way of the Lord. John Eaton states that this comes about because a person “has come to know the Lord truly as God, and sees in Him infinite power and Goodness. We know Him before us and with us in every place and in every time. If we fear the Lord, we must surely be humble, no longer god to ourselves.” Or as Fr. Hoppough taught us in seminary, “God is God and I am not, He is the Creator and I am the created!” That is true humility. From knowing the Lord in this way, and aware of the many ways His loving kindness supports us, we follow Him in a serious way due to our knowing His tremendous love for us. This is especially true in the gift of His Son, Jesus who is the way, the truth and the life!

The last part of the psalm involves the blessing. This is what the psalmist and the pilgrim long for! For the pilgrim now on the ninth, step this is more of a reality as the Temple comes ever closer in sight! The Navarre Bible states that, “The blessing is the highlight of the pilgrimage to the Holy City, for the divine blessing will keep the nation safe and give the individual long life.” May the Lord bless you for Zion!

Interesting Psalm trivia: the third set of three psalms of ascent (psalm126-128) are used in the complementary psalmody in the Liturgy of the Hours for use at Mid-Afternoon Prayer (usually prayed around 3 pm traditionally). This is an option when all three daytime hours (Mid-Morning, Mid-Day, and Mid-Afternoon) are prayed. At one of the daytime hours the assigned psalms for the day are prayed; at the others, those in the complementary psalms are used for prayer! Each day, we are on a journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem – these next three psalms of ascent help the one who prays them at the Mid-Afternoon hour to reflect back on the day considering all the ways that the Lord has helped us and to anticipate the blessings still in store!

Pray Psalm 12 8 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in  praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.

To what does the psalmist compare the “Fear of the Lord”?

How is family a blessing from the Lord?

How might the blessing from the Levite in the Temple be likened to the blessing that is given by the priest or deacon at the end of Mass, Morning Prayer (Lauds), or Evening Prayer (Vespers)?

How do blessings help us on the way to the Heavenly Kingdom?

What words or phrases stood out to you in this psalm? Write them down in your journal, or memorize them so that they can give your courage on the journey to the Heavenly Jerusalem!