The Homilies of Saint Jerome, Volume 1 (1–59 on the Psalms)

54. Homily 54 On Psalm 143 (144)

HOMILY 54 ON PSALM 143 (144) 1I:""'!=:TllVEN THOUGH we have preached at length on the Gospel, nevertheless, for the sake of those who do not know Latin, we must make a few comments on the psalter, some may not go away starving while others are well satisfied. Since, moreover, the psalm is long and we would be here a whole day if we lingered over each verse, we ought to reflect briefly upon a few thoughts, rather than spend our time unfolding the meaning of words. 'Blessed be the Lord, my God, who trains my hands for battle.'t One who attempts a brief explanation of Holy Writ forfeits all grounds for praise; nevertheless, those who listen do retain something from the exposition. 'Blessed be the Lord, my God, who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.' Let us lift up our hands in prayer without distractions , without contentions,2 and on every occasion, for when we raise our hands to God, our prayer is our weapon against the devil. 'Who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.' Prayer is our harp, prayer our either; to its accompaniment , we sing our hymn to God. 'My mercy and my refuge, my stronghold, my deliverer, my protector:a With such titles as these the psalmist addresses God whose names are as many as His kindnesses. 'Who subdues people under me.' These words may be uttered in the name of Christ with reference, of course, to His Incarnation; I Cf. Ps. 143 (144).1. 2 Cf. I Tim. 2.8. 3 Cf. Ps. 143 (144).2. 880 HOMILY 54 381 they may be said also by the apostles. In like manner, the abbot in the monastery gives thanks to God and says: Blessed be the Lord, my God, who subjects people to me, for they are not subject to me, but to You; they obey me that they may serve You. 'Lord, what is man, that you notice him; the son of man, that you take thought of him?' This same reflection occurs in the eighth psalm: 'What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?'4 Lord, what is man that You notice him? The psalmist is speaking here of the frailty of the body and of human weakness , and what does he say? If you consider his flesh, what is man? If you consider his spirit, he is noble. Let us by no means scorn the flesh,5 but let us reject its works. Let us not despise the body that will reign in heaven with Christ. 'Flesh and blood can obtain no part in the kingdom of God';6 no, not flesh and blood of themselves, but the works of the flesh. 'Flesh and blood can obtain no part in the kingdom of God: How, then, are they going to reign together with Christ; how shall we be seated together in heaven in Christ?7 'Lord, what is man, that you notice him; the son of man, that you take thought of him?' The prophet is giving thanks to God and this is the import of what he says. As far as man's human estate is concerned, he is nothing. 'Vanity of vanities! all things are vanity!' said Ecclesiastes.s If all things are vanity, heaven, too, is vanity, and ~o are the angels. If heaven and the angels are vanity, how much more vain is man? If the angels are vanity, if heaven is vanity, why has God fashioned vanity? Vanity, yes, in comparison to God, but in itself, not vanity.9 Lord, what is man that You notice him, that You have deigned to notice him? Sublime happi4 Ps.8.5. 5 Cf. Commentary on lsaia 52.2, 3, PL 24.497 (603). 6 1 Cor. 15.50; cf. Against John of Jerusalem 36, PL 23.406 (446). 7 Cf. Eph. 2.6. 8 Cf. Eccles. 1.2; cf. Letter 48.14, PL 22.503 (224). 9 Cf. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 1.2, PL 23.1065 (385). 382 SAINT JEROME ness of man, to know his Creator! That is the very distinction that separates us from brutes and beasts-that we recognize our Creator; brute beasts have 110 understanding. By the very posture and constitution of his body, man seeks his Maker. Animals, for the most part, have...