Let us go up rejoicing to the house of the Lord

May 10, 2023 - Wednesday, Fifth Week of Easter

Psalm 122:1-5

Psalm 122 belongs to a group of Psalms known as the Songs of Ascent. There are fifteen of them, from Psalm 120 to 134, and they are associated with the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. “I rejoiced because they said to me, "We will go up to the house of the LORD." And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem” (Ps 122:1-2).

According to the Old Testament, the Jewish people should appear in Jerusalem three times a year on the most important feasts of their faith. The first and most important was the Passover which celebrated their liberation from slavery in Egypt. Then fifty days later was the feast of Pentecost that celebrated the gift of Torah. Finally, in Autumn, there was the feast of the Tabernacle, during which they recall the journey of their ancestors through the desert towards the promised land. 

“Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD”(Ps 122:3-4). Jerusalem was not only the capital of the Jewish nation, but it was also its spiritual centre. There was the magnificent temple with its daily liturgy. It was the place where the glory or the name of God resided. In it, the people could offer sacrifices and receive the priestly blessing.  

But, in the imagination of the prophets, Jerusalem was also to become a pilgrimage destination for all the nations. Prophet Isaiah announced that “all the nations shall flow to it” (Is 2:2) and that they would want to go to “ the house of the God of Jacob” to be taught how to live (see Is 2:2-4). And then, the prophet prophesied that “out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Is 2:3). The risen Christ told his apostles that they are to proclaim the Gospel of salvation from Jerusalem to all the corners of the world (see Luke 24:47).

Jerusalem is located on the mountain. This location of the city becomes a metaphor for our spiritual ascent to the heavenly Jerusalem which is our mother, our home, and our destination. This heavenly Jerusalem is described in the book of Revelation as “the dwelling place of God with man” (Rev 21:3). But unlike the earthly city of Jerusalem that often fell into the hands of evil empires and was destroyed by the enemies of God’s people, the new Jerusalem is assured of peace and prosperity (Is 65:17-25). This new city, a centre of the new heaven and new earth, will not know suffering or death (Rev 21:4). “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the LORD (Is 65:25). 

So, let us go up to the house of the Lord rejoicing. Our life is a pilgrimage towards the new Jerusalem, the heavenly city prepared for us by God. There he will wipe every tear from our eyes and “death shall be no more” (Rev 21:4).