Psalm 145 (144 in the Septuagint and Vulgate numbering) is a majestic acrostic hymn of praise, the last of the Davidic psalms in the Psalter. It is anonymous in its superscription but traditionally attributed to David. Scholars date it to the post-exilic period (5th–4th century BC), when the restored Jewish community used such hymns to celebrate God’s kingship and faithfulness. The psalm is an alphabetical acrostic (each verse beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet), suggesting it was composed for liturgical use or memorisation. It blends personal devotion with universal praise, reflecting wisdom traditions and the influence of earlier royal psalms. Its structure moves from personal commitment to cosmic praise, highlighting God’s greatness, mercy, and nearness.

The selected verses (2-3, 8-9, 17-18) with the response “The Lord is close to all who call him” form a concentrated song of adoration. The psalmist vows to bless God day after day and praises His unmeasurable greatness. He proclaims the Lord as kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy, good to all creatures. The psalm affirms God’s justice in all His ways and holiness in all His deeds, concluding that the Lord is close to all who call on Him in truth. This creates a beautiful balance between God’s transcendent majesty and His intimate accessibility.

In the Lectionary, these verses are appointed as the Responsorial Psalm for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. The readings emphasise God’s generous mercy and the surprising nature of His kingdom. The First Reading (Isaiah 55:6-9) calls the wicked to seek the Lord while He may be found, noting that God’s ways are higher than our ways; the Second Reading (Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a) speaks of living for Christ; and the Gospel (Matthew 20:1-16) presents the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, where the landowner pays all the same wage, illustrating God’s generous and unexpected grace.

Psalm 145 complements these readings powerfully. Its declaration of God’s compassion and nearness to those who call upon Him echoes Isaiah’s invitation to seek the Lord. The psalm’s praise of God’s goodness to all creatures and justice in all His ways provides the theological foundation for the parable’s message of generous mercy that transcends human notions of fairness. For the assembly, the psalm transforms Ordinary Time into a celebration of God’s abundant kindness. It reassures believers that the same Lord who is close to all who call Him in truth is the generous vineyard owner who invites everyone to share in His kingdom. The response “The Lord is close to all who call him” becomes both a statement of faith and an encouragement to persistent prayer, inviting the faithful to trust in God’s higher ways and to rejoice in His merciful generosity.