Psalm 85 | Holy Bible | Mary Our Help

Catholic Commentary on Psalm 85

"Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other." (Psalm 85:10)

Four Virtues Embrace

Psalm 85 moves through three moments: gratitude for a past restoration, prayer for a present need, and a prophetic vision of a future reconciliation. The gratitude is for what God has already done: he forgave the iniquity of his people, he covered all their sins, he set aside his wrath. The prayer is for what is still needed: restore us again, God our Saviour, show us your unfailing love. And then the vision, one of the most beautiful images in the Old Testament: Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

The Church Fathers saw in this embrace of the four virtues an image of the Incarnation: love and faithfulness, righteousness and peace meet in the person of Christ, in whom the divine and human kiss. The Catechism describes the Incarnation as the reconciliation of heaven and earth, God and humanity, justice and mercy, in the one person of the Son (CCC 457). What the psalmist glimpsed in hope, the Gospel proclaims as accomplished. Righteousness has looked down from heaven in the face of Christ, and faithfulness has sprung from the earth in the humanity he assumed.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the four qualities of Psalm 85 are also a description of what the Christian community should be: a place where love and faithfulness dwell together, where righteousness and peace are not rivals but friends. Is that the description of your parish, your family, your community? If not, this psalm is both the prayer and the vision to work toward.

Prayer

Lord God, you have shown us in your Son what it looks like when love and faithfulness meet and when righteousness and peace embrace. Plant these four virtues in our community. Let your righteousness look down on our faithfulness and let them meet in the peace that only you can give. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

You Showed Favor to Your Land

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

1 You showed favor to Your land, O LORD;

You restored Jacob from captivity.*

2 You forgave the iniquity of Your people;

You covered all their sin.

Selah

3 You withheld all Your fury;

You turned from Your burning anger.

4 Restore us, O God of our salvation,

and put away Your displeasure toward us.

5 Will You be angry with us forever?

Will You draw out Your anger to all generations?

6 Will You not revive us again,

that Your people may rejoice in You?

7 Show us Your loving devotion, O LORD,

and grant us Your salvation.

8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say;

for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints;

He will not let them return to folly.

9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,

that His glory may dwell in our land.

10 Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together;

righteousness and peace have kissed.

11 Faithfulness sprouts from the earth,

and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12 The LORD will indeed provide what is good,

and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness will go before Him

to prepare the way for His steps.

*85:1 85:1 Or restored the fortunes of Jacob

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