Rejoice in the Lord
October 14, 2023 - Saturday, 27th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12
Psalm 97 begins with a proclamation that “the Lord reigns” and it is a cause for rejoicing: “Let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad” (Ps 97:1). This statement reminds me of the Christmas story of an angel of the Lord announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). How differently is portrayed the reign of God from the ruling of ancient emperors and kings or our contemporary leaders. God’s reign brings freedom and justice, the worldly kingdoms are often established through violence, bloodshed and injustice.
In Psalm 97, the Lord comes to reign with such an overwhelming cosmic power that the idols of the nations and their makers are put to shame. In the Old Testament, the primary source of God’s revelation is the creation of the world and His involvement in history on behalf of his people. In the New Testament, God reveals himself in Jesus Christ who, as the author of the letter to the Hebrews writes, is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3).
Then the psalm declares the primacy of God over all other gods (Ps 97:9). Later on, the New Testament is going to declare the primacy of Christ over all spiritual powers. For example, Saint Paul in the letter to the Ephesians writes that God the Father “seated [Jesus Christ] at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:27).
After this declaration of God’s unmatched greatness, the psalmist calls God’s people to a holy living: “O you who love the LORD, hate evil!” (Ps 97:10). As the followers of Christ, we are also called to love Christ and reject evil. The psalmist adds a promise of protection for all those who embarked on the adventure of a holy living. A similar promise is given to us by Jesus when he makes it clear that for his sake we shall be hated in the world: “But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Luke 21:18-19).
Psalm 97 ends with an assurance of a life of joy, safety, light, and security. It is a life that can be found in Christ alone. He gives us joy amid life’s challenges and peace that surpasses all understanding. He opens our eyes to see the light of truth and assures us of everlasting life. And so, we can indeed be glad and grateful that Jesus Christ came to reign over our lives. “Be glad in the LORD, you just, and give thanks to his holy name” (Ps 97:12).