God’s enduring Word and Truth in ever-changing world
November 16, 2023 - Thursday, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 119:89, 90, 91, 130, 135, 175
We have already reflected a few times on Psalm 119, the longest Psalm in the entire Psalter. The fragment that the liturgy of the Word provides for us today focuses on the enduring nature of God’s Word and truth in the ever-changing world. So, let us briefly explore this theme together.
Many of us are familiar with the phrase “change is in the air” or with the famous saying of a Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, “everything flows”. Change is part of life. Our planet passes through different seasons and we pass through different stages of life. But, the question arises: is there any underlying principle that remains stable despite all changes that we notice in ourselves and the world around us?
Verses 89 and 90 of Psalm 119 speak about God’s word and his truth as enduring forever: "Your word, O LORD, endures forever; it is firm as the heavens. Through all generations, your truth endures; you have established the earth, and it stands firm." The poetic parallelism between God’s word and the heavens, God’s truth and the earth indicates their enduring character. The universe was created by God’s word and is sustained in existence by His faithfulness.
The biggest worry of Pope Benedict XVI was contemporary relativism. Taken to its extreme, it denies any enduring aspect of reality. Relativism does not accept any truth that would apply to everyone. And so, what is true for one does not necessarily have to be true for another one. But, if we cannot find a common ground on which to build our social lives we are heading for a disaster.
The psalmist is convinced that God’s word and truth revealed in the Scriptures have enduring character. They can become guiding principles in life: “The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple” (Ps 119:130). From a Christian perspective, God’s word and His truth point to Jesus Christ, the fullest revelation of God (see John 1:1-2; 14:6). For us, Jesus Christ is the enduring Word of God through whom everything has been created and who sustains everything in being. He is also the truth who came to testify to the truth (see John 18:37). His life explains the meaning of human life; He is the guiding principle for all of us; We trust in Him, follow Him, and imitate Him.
Thus, even if everything flows and change is in the air, there is someone who does not change and who sustains everything in existence. In moments of upheavals and constantly changing situations, we can rely on God whose Word and Truth endure forever.