Weekly Catechesis

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Pope Benedict XVI met with pilgrims who gathered in the courtyard of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo for his general audience on Aug. 17. He offered his reflections on Psalm 126 as part of his ongoing series of teachings on the psalms and canticles of the Liturgy of the Hours.

“This psalm acquired a special meaning when people sang it at those times when Israel felt threatened and fearful because it was being put once again to the test,” the Holy Father noted. “Thus, it becomes a prayer of God's people as they make their way on their historical journey, which is beset with danger and trials but always open to a trust in God who is their savior and deliverer and who supports the weak and oppressed.”

Pope Benedict XVI highlighted the passage, “Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy,” and pointed out the challenges that the farmer faces: “Under the weight of his labor, the farmer's face is sometimes streaked with tears. His work of sowing is exhausting, and will result, perhaps, in futility and failure. But when the harvest is abundant and joyful, he discovers that his suffering was fruitful.”

“This verse in the psalm summarizes an important lesson on the mystery of the fruitfulness of a life that might include suffering,” The Holy Father continued. “As Jesus himself said as he was about to face his passion and death: ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.’”

Pope Benedict XVI encouraged his listeners to see Psalm 126 as “a song of hope to which we should have recourse when we are immersed in times of trial, fear, exterior threats and internal oppression.”

Listening to the words of Psalm 126, it seems as though the event celebrated in the second part of the Book of Isaiah — the “new exodus” — is unfolding before our eyes. This event is the return of the Israelites from exile in Babylon to the land of their forefathers following the edict of King Cyrus of Persia in 538 B.C.

Once again, the joyful experience of the first exodus, when the Jewish people were delivered from slavery in Egypt, is repeated.

This psalm acquired a special meaning when people sang it at those times when Israel felt threatened and fearful because it was being put once again to the test. In fact, the psalm contains a prayer for the return of the prisoners at that time (see verse 4). Thus, it becomes a prayer of God's people as they make their way on their historical journey, which is beset with danger and trials but always open to a trust in God who is their savior and deliverer and who supports the weak and oppressed.

A Spirit of Joy

The psalm begins on a note of exaltation. There is laughter, and a celebration takes place for the freedom that has been given to them; songs of joy flow forth (see verses 1-2). There is a twofold reaction to the freedom they have obtained.

On one hand, the pagan nations acknowledge the greatness of the God of Israel: “The Lord has done great things for them” (see verse 2). The salvation of the chosen people is clear proof that God is truly alive, and that he is powerful, present and active throughout history. On the other hand, God's people themselves proclaim their faith in the Lord who saves: “The Lord has done great things for us” (see verse 3).

Sufferings of the Past

At this point, the psalmist recalls the past, which he relives with a shudder of fear and sadness. Let us focus our attention on the “farming” image that the psalmist uses: “Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy” (verse 5). Under the weight of his labor, the farmer's face is sometimes streaked with tears. His work of sowing is exhausting and will result, perhaps, in futility and failure. But when the harvest is abundant and joyful, he discovers that his suffering was fruitful.

This verse in the psalm summarizes an important lesson on the mystery of the fruitfulness of a life that might include suffering. As Jesus himself said as he was about to face his passion and death: “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24).

Trust in the Lord

Thus, the psalm opens up a perspective on a festive harvest that is a symbol of the joy that comes from freedom, peace and prosperity, which are the fruit of God's blessing. Therefore, this prayer is a song of hope to which we should have recourse when we are immersed in times of trial, fear, exterior threats and internal oppression.

But it can also be a more general appeal to live out each day and to fulfill the choices we have made in a climate of trust. Perseverance in doing good, even if misunderstood and met with opposition, always leads in the end to a place of light, fruitfulness and peace. St. Paul reminded the Galatians of this: “The one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest” (Galatians 6:8-9).

Let us conclude with some reflections by St. Bede the Venerable (672 or 673-735 A.D.) on Psalm 126, who commented on the words with which Jesus revealed to his disciples the sadness that awaited them along with the joy that would flow out of their afflictions (see Galatians 16:20).

As Bede recalls, “Those who loved Christ wept and wailed when they saw him seized by his enemies, bound, tried, condemned, scourged, derided and finally crucified, pierced by a lance and buried. On the other hand, those who loved the world rejoiced … when they condemned to an infamous death the one who was a source of trouble for them even when they saw him.

“The disciples were saddened by Lord's death, but when they learned of his resurrection, their sadness turned into joy; when they then saw the miracle of his ascension, they praised and blessed the Lord with even greater joy, as the evangelist Luke testifies (see Luke 24:53). However, the Lord's words apply to all the faithful, who, amid the tears and afflictions of the world, seek after eternal joy, and who, with good reason, now weep and are sad because they are not yet able to see the one whom they love and because, as long as they are still in their bodies, are still far from their home and from the kingdom, even if they are certain that they shall attain their reward through their toils and struggles.

Their sadness will turn into joy when, once the struggles of this life are over, they will receive the reward of eternal life, as the psalm says: ‘Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy’” (Omelie sul Vangelo, 2, 13: Collana di Testi Patristici, XC, Rome, 1990, pp. 379-380).

(Register translation)