Catholic Commentary on Psalm 118

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes." (Psalm 118:22-23)

The Last of the Hallel

Psalm 118 closes the Egyptian Hallel and was the last psalm Jesus sang with his disciples before the Passion. Its opening and closing verses frame the whole: Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Surrounded by enemies on all sides, the psalmist declares his trust: with the LORD on my side I will not fear. What can mere mortals do to me? It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in human beings, better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

The Christological centrepiece is verses 22-23: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes. Jesus quotes this verse in his confrontation with the chief priests after the parable of the wicked tenants. Peter quotes it in Acts 4. Paul builds on it in Ephesians 2. The Catechism identifies Christ as the cornerstone of the whole edifice of the Church, the one rejected by the religious authorities and exalted by God (CCC 756). The gate of righteousness through which the righteous may enter, mentioned in verse 20, is the Church's image of Christ himself, the door through whom alone one enters into life (John 10:9).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the stone the builders rejected. This is the one you worship. Not the successful, the approved, the powerful, but the rejected one whom God exalted. In every experience of rejection, every time you are passed over or dismissed or ignored for the sake of Christ, you share the experience of the cornerstone. That experience is the material from which God builds.

Prayer

Lord God, give thanks to you for you are good and your love endures forever. You are my strength and my salvation. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone and it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

118
The LORD Is on My Side
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His loving devotion endures forever.
2 Let Israel * 118:2 LXX the house of Israel say,
“His loving devotion endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say,
“His loving devotion endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His loving devotion endures forever.”
 
5 In my distress I called to the LORD,
and He answered and set me free.
6 The LORD is on my side;† 118:6 Or The LORD is with me; also in verse 7; LXX The Lord is my helper I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?‡ 118:6 Cited in Hebrews 13:6
7 The LORD is on my side; He is my helper.
Therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
 
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were extinguished like burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13 I was pushed so hard I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song,
and He has become my salvation.
 
15 Shouts of joy and salvation resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!
16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted!
The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!”
17 I will not die, but I will live
and proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD disciplined me severely,
but He has not given me over to death.
 
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will give You thanks, for You have answered me,
and You have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.§ 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner; cited in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7
23 This is from the LORD,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.* 118:23 Cited in Matthew 21:42 and Mark 12:11
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
 
25 O LORD, save us, we pray.† 118:25 Hebrew hosia-na, meaning save, we pray or save now; see Matthew 21:9, Matthew 21:15, Mark 11:9, and John 12:13.
We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper!
 
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.‡ 118:26 Cited in Matthew 21:9, Matthew 23:39, Mark 11:9, Luke 13:35, Luke 19:38, and John 12:13
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God;
He has made His light to shine upon us.
Bind the festal sacrifice with cords
to the horns of the altar.§ 118:27 Or Join in the festal procession with boughs in hand, up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give You thanks.
You are my God, and I will exalt You.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
His loving devotion endures forever.

*118:2 118:2 LXX the house of Israel

†118:6 118:6 Or The LORD is with me; also in verse 7; LXX The Lord is my helper

‡118:6 118:6 Cited in Hebrews 13:6

§118:22 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner; cited in Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11, and 1 Peter 2:7

*118:23 118:23 Cited in Matthew 21:42 and Mark 12:11

†118:25 118:25 Hebrew hosia-na, meaning save, we pray or save now; see Matthew 21:9, Matthew 21:15, Mark 11:9, and John 12:13.

‡118:26 118:26 Cited in Matthew 21:9, Matthew 23:39, Mark 11:9, Luke 13:35, Luke 19:38, and John 12:13

§118:27 118:27 Or Join in the festal procession with boughs in hand, up to the horns of the altar.

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