Psalm 147 Commentary Corpus Christi. by Dr Noel Donnelly
We last sang Psalm 147 on the second Sunday after Christmas. We now sing it again on the second Sunday after Pentecost, Corpus Christi. In the Book of psalms it is one of the five great songs that form a climax of praise to conclude the whole collection of 150. When the ancient liturgists were making this arrangement, they may have been overwhelmed by the number of songs available for this: they were spoiled for choice and so they crammed three songs into this one psalm! Each of those songs began with a summons to praise. The third of these songs is used now on this second Sunday after Pentecost.
Our singer here summons us to praise for two main reasons: firstly. for the provision of “finest wheat”, for food; secondly, we praise God for the gift, the amazing privilege, of God’s guiding word. Both Bread and Word feature here in the song chosen for today’s feast.
Our psalm is a response to the first reading where Moses speaks of Bread and Word in the desert, specifically in the gifts of manna, and the gift of God’s ever-protecting word. It leads forward to the Gospel where Jesus is the Living Bread, while his Living Word promises a liberation that will be eternal.
Psalm 147 may remind us to praise God as we count our many blessings, sacramental, liturgical and personal. As the old song puts it: Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings, see what God has done!”
