by Fr. David Huemmer, Chaplain & Spiritual Director
We come to the end of the Psalms of Ascent with the final blessing found in Psalm 134. It is the “second” shortest psalm in the book of psalms; only Psalm 117 is shorter. However, within this wonderful psalm of blessing there is much to be discovered!
The evening service at the Temple has just been completed, and the pilgrimage has come to an end. It is now time for the pilgrims to return to homes nearby or begin the packing and arranging for those whose journey back home will be longer. Though their journey has come to an end, the praise of the Lord is to continue. The “servants” of the Lord, the priests and Levites, will continue the praise of the Lord through the night. Therefore, the pilgrims ask them in a kind of “encouragement” to keep up the praise of the Lord for them! It is what we all are to do: the continually praise the Lord who so generously provides for us. Therefore, the servants of the Lord in the Temple night watch are to keep up the praise of God for those who cannot do so themselves. This causes the pilgrims to “rejoice in the thought that even with the fall of night there is no ceasing from this divine worship, since those whose duty it is to stand and minister in God’s Temple continue through the hours of darkness to stretch forth their hands in humble supplication towards the Holy of Holies,” states Fr. Richard Foster in his reflection of Psalm 134 in his book
Psalms and Canticles of the Breviary.
In return, the priests and Levites call down God’s blessing on those who will now return to their homes, near and far. “May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth!” Again, it is the blessing that flows forth from the Temple where the Lord dwells that gives strength and courage to the pilgrims. Also, the two parts of this blessing are seen in some of the other Psalms of Ascent, making this blessing even more appropriate as a closing to this beautiful collection.
So, we come to the end of our at home retreat. The Psalms of Ascent, though, remain for us the prayer book of the pilgrim as we journey to the Heavenly Kingdom. It is only when we arrive there that our pilgrimage will come to a happy end! Therefore, as we continue on that journey, we are invited to continually praise, acknowledge, and proclaim the greatness of the Lord; seek out His blessings (especially at Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and in the Sacraments); and trust in His care for us! We are on an ascensional journey to the Heavenly Kingdom with the way paved by Our Lord Jesus, who sends the Holy Spirit to be our constant guide on the journey to Jerusalem, our journey to the Heavenly Kingdom!
Psalms trivia: Psalm 134 has long been the psalm of Night Prayer or Compline in the Church along with Psalm 4 and 91. To this day, these are still the psalms that are prayed nightly at Compline in many monasteries around the world.
Pray
Psalm 134 in your bible using the steps of Lectio Divina as shared in
praying with the scriptures on the St. Joseph Retreat Center website blog.
How have the blessings of the pilgrimage helped the psalmist?
How do the blessings of the Lord help you on your pilgrim journey 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!