This is the Day, You, O God, Have Made

Ramseyb - April 9, 2023

This is the Day, You, O God, Have Made

In the Jewish scriptures, Ps. 118 was an entrance psalm from a Temple liturgy, offering solemn praise to God. What an appropriate psalm for our Resurrection feast – a feast of victory. For Christians, this psalm is always sung at the Easter Vigil and Easter Day Masses. And what a victory it is – Jesus was raised from the dead. Death is not victorious. In the verses selected for this Sunday, the first two verses invite the worshipers to praise God. Verses 16-17 echo Moses’ song in the Exodus, celebrating Israel’s coming through the waters of chaos into life. The final two verses are from an ancient proverb – what is insignificant has become great through divine election. The thoughts and actions of many Jewish and Christian ancestors have been rejected, but today we stand on their shoulders. The late Fr. Carroll Stuhlmueller, a noted theologian, suggested that the refrain is better translated “on the day when God takes action.” (The Cultural World of the Prophets , Year A, by John J. Pilch, pg. 55 © The Liturgical Press.)

We give thanks to you, for you are good,
and your steadfast love endures forever.
Let the descendants of Israel say:
“Your steadfast love endures forever.”

O God, you have triumphed; your reign is exalted.
You have triumphed over all;
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount your wondrous deeds.

The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This is your doing, O God; it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which you have made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.