A Song of Confidence: God Is Always With Us

ZENIT News Agency ^ | December 14, 2005 | Benedict XVI

[ELS]

Commentary on Psalm 138(139):1-12

A Song of Confidence: God Is Always With Us

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 14, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave during today's general audience. In his talk the Pope gave a commentary on Psalm 138(139):1-12.

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1. In two distinct moments, the Liturgy of Vespers -- on whose psalms and canticles we are meditating -- proposes to us the reading of a sapiential hymn of transparent beauty and of intense emotional impact, Psalm 138(139). Before us we have today the first part of the composition (cf. 1-12), that is to say, the two first stanzas that exalt, respectively, the omniscience of God (cf. 1-6) and his omnipresence in space and time (cf. 7-12).

The vigor of the images and the expressions have as their objective the celebration of the creator: "If the created works are so great," affirmed Theodoret of Cyrus, a Christian writer of the fifth century, "how great the creator must then be!" ("Discorsi sulla Provvidenza," 4: "Collana di Testi Patristici," LXXV [Discourse on Providence: Compilation of Patristic Texts] Roma 1988, p. 115). The meditation of the psalmist seeks above all to penetrate into the mystery of the transcendent God, who at the same time is close to us.

2. The essence of the message that is presented to us is clear: God knows everything and he is with his creature, and it is not possible to elude him. His presence is not threatening nor controlling, even though his gaze certainly is grave when looking on evil, before which he is not indifferent.

Nonetheless, his fundamental element is of a salvific presence, capable embracing all of being and all of history. In short, it is the spiritual setting to which St. Paul alludes when speaking in the Areopagus of Athens, when he quoted a Greek poet: "In him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

3. The first passage (cf. Psalm 138[139]:1-6), as he says, is the celebration of the divine omnipresence: In fact, the verbs of knowledge such as "to probe," "to be familiar with," "to understand," "to distinguish" and "to know" are repeated. As is it known, biblical knowledge goes much further than mere intellectual learning and understanding; it is a type of communion between the knower and the known: The Lord is, therefore, intimate with us, in our thoughts and actions.

The second passage of the psalm is dedicated to the divine omnipresence (cf. verses 7-12). In this verse, the illusory will of man to elude the presence of God is described in a palpitating way. All of space is embraced: above all, the vertical axis of "heaven-abyss" (cf. verse 8), and then the horizontal dimension, everything from the dawn, that is to say, from the East, to "beyond the sea," the Mediterranean, that is to say, the West (cf. verse 9). In each one of these spheres of space, including the most secret, God is actively present.

The psalmist also introduces the other reality in which we are submerged, time, symbolically represented by night and light, shadows and day (cf. verses 11-12). Even darkness, in which it is difficult to advance and see, is penetrated by the gaze and by the presence the Lord of being and of time. He is always willing to take us by the hand to guide us on our earthly path (cf. verse 10). Therefore, it is not a closeness of a judge that provokes terror, but rather of support and freedom.

In this way, we are able to understand the ultimate, essential content of this psalm. It is a song of confidence: God is always with us. Even in the dark nights of our life, he does not abandon us. Even in the difficult moments, he is present. And even in the final night, in the final solitude in which no one will be able to accompany us, in the night of death, the Lord does not abandon us. He accompanies us, as well, in this last solitude of the night of death. And for this reason, as Christians, we can be confident: We are never alone. The goodness of God is always with us.

4. We began with a quote of the Christian writer Theodoret of Cyrus. We end now commending ourselves to him and to his "Fourth Discourse on Providence," for this is definitively the theme of the psalm. He reflects on verse 6, in which the psalmist exclaims: "Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach." Theodoret comments on this passage analyzing in depth in the interior of his conscience and personal experience and affirms: "Recollected and entering into my own intimacy, removing myself from external murmuring, I wanted to submerge myself in the contemplation of my nature. ... Reflecting on this and thinking of the harmony between mortal and immortal nature, I was startled by such wonder, and when I could not contemplate this mystery, I recognized my failure; and what's more, while I proclaim the victory of the knowledge of the Creator, and sing to him songs of praise, I cry: 'Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach'" ("Collana di Testi Patristici" [Compilation of Patristic Texts] LXXV, Rome, 1988, pp. 116, 117).

[Translation of the Italian original by ZENIT]

[At the end of the audience, the Pope greeted the pilgrims in several languages. In English he said:]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we focus our attention on Psalm 138 which reflects on the God who is everywhere and knows everything. This meditation on the Lord and his creation celebrates the mystery of the transcendent God who is also near to us.

Indeed, this salvific presence is fundamental and is capable of embracing all existence and all history. The knowledge referred to in this psalm is more than intellectual understanding. It is a biblical knowledge which is a communion between the one known and the One who knows: The Lord is, therefore, in an intimate relationship with us whenever we think and whenever we act.

God is present in all of space and time: He is in the heavens and in the depths of the earth; he is in the light and in the darkness. We conclude by contemplating the words of Theodoret of Cyr who realized that even while proclaiming the wisdom of the Creator, we cannot help but acknowledge the astonishing nature of the Lord's wisdom which is too lofty for us to understand. "If such is the grandeur of creation, how infinitely great must the creator be."

I am pleased to welcome the English-speaking pilgrims present at this audience, especially those from the United States of America. In a special way I greet the group of Buddhists from Japan. Upon all of you I invoke the Lord's blessings of peace and joy.

[ELS]

Psalm 138:1-12
Douay-Rheims Bible

Domine, probasti. God's special providence over his servants.

1 Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me: 2 Thou hast know my sitting down, and my rising up. 3 Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out. 4 And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my tongue. 5 Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me.

4 "There is no speech"... Viz., unknown to thee: or when there is no speech in my tongue; yet my whole interior and my most secret thoughts are known to thee.

6 Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face? 8 If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present. 9 If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea: 10 Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures. 12 But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light as day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee.

Latin Vulgate Bible

1 in finem David psalmus 2 Domine probasti me et cognovisti me tu cognovisti sessionem meam et surrectionem meam 3 intellexisti cogitationes meas de longe semitam meam et funiculum meum investigasti 4 et omnes vias meas praevidisti quia non est sermo in lingua mea 5 ecce Domine tu cognovisti omnia novissima et antiqua tu formasti me et posuisti super me manum tuam

6 mirabilis facta est scientia tua ex me confortata est non potero ad eam 7 quo ibo ab spiritu tuo et quo a facie tua fugiam 8 si ascendero in caelum tu illic es si descendero ad infernum ades 9 si sumpsero pinnas meas diluculo et habitavero in extremis maris 10 etenim illuc manus tua deducet me et tenebit me dextera tua

11 et dixi forsitan tenebrae conculcabunt me et nox inluminatio in deliciis meis 12 quia tenebrae non obscurabuntur a te et nox sicut dies inluminabitur sicut tenebrae eius ita et lumen eius

[ELS]

Yahoo! News didn't have very many photos from this week's audience.

A visitor takes a picture of a wooden figure representing the late Pope John Paul displayed in Rome's Pantheon December 13, 2005. The figure represents part of a nativity scene made by art school students from Bydgoszcz, northern Poland, as a present for Pope Benedict XVI. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico

Pope Benedict XVI waves while he is driven through the crowds prior to his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. The pontiff underlined how Catholics have to have faith because God is always present and will not abandon them. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)

People wearing Santa Claus hats wave to Pope Benedict XVI as he is driven through the crowds prior to his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. The pontiff underlined how Catholics have to have faith because God is always present and will not abandon them. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)

[ELS]

Weekly audience ping!

Please let me know if you want to be on or off this ping list.

[ELS]

Papal homily on Papal Homily on 40th Anniversary of Close of Vatican II (The Mass was on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception last Thursday in St. Peter's Basilica.)
Mary Turns to Us, Saying: 'Have the Courage to Dare With God!

Papal Homily at Vespers of First Sunday of Advent
The Lord Always Wants to Come Through Us

[onyx]

Thank you so much for the ping, ELS. I love this.

[Nihil Obstat]

Thank you for the links to the homilies.

Bxvi bttt

[Doctor Raoul]

Merry Christmas

[ELS]

Thank you! Merry Christmas!

[HarleyD]

And for this reason, as Christians, we can be confident: We are never alone. The goodness of God is always with us.

Psa 139:17-22 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You. O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed. For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? I hate them with the utmost hatred; They have become my enemies.

It never ceases to amaze me how our leaders pull things out of context to give us an incomplete picture of scripture. Funny I don't see this part of the Psalms mentioned.

[ELS]

I don't see this part of the Psalms mentioned.

Well, that could be because the Pope was commenting on verses 1-12. From the beginning of Zenit's article: "In his talk the Pope gave a commentary on Psalm 138(139):1-12."

[lightman]

God is always with us. Even in the dark nights of our life, he does not abandon us. Even in the difficult moments, he is present. And even in the final night, in the final solitude in which no one will be able to accompany us, in the night of death, the Lord does not abandon us. He accompanies us, as well, in this last solitude of the night of death. And for this reason, as Christians, we can be confident: We are never alone. The goodness of God is always with us.

The Holy Father's address is especially encouraging on this day when we commemorate St. John of the Cross, best known for his meditation "The Dark Night of the Soul".

[HarleyD]

I know Catholics tend to be very sensitive and (in this case) I don't wish to seem like I'm criticizing the Pope. I've just noticed a trend IN MOST CHRISTIAN LEADERS to use part of verses or sections that are warm and fuzzy while ignoring the rest that makes us feel uncomfortable. When was the last time we heard a sermon on hating those who hate God? Do you think you will?

[jrny]

Just an FYI for anyone who may want to know:

Ps. 138 is prayed every Friday at Vespers in the Traditional Office (unless a First or Second Class Feast falls on Friday). More to the theme of the Psalm about God being ever present and providential, this psalm is also assigned for Feasts of the Apostles at Vespers.

[ELS]

You can check in next week when the Pope will probably comment on the next part of Psalm 138(139) which should include the verses you highlighted.