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Epiphany Season · Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A

Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9a, 9b-10 (Matthew 5:3)

The Lord Keeps Faith Forever

February 1, 2026

The Works of Mercy, Pieter Brueghel the Younger
The Works of Mercy, Pieter Brueghel the Younger, c. 1616-1620Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp
One village street with all of it happening at once: bread handed down from a doorway, the thirsty given drink, the naked clothed, a prisoner visited through a grating, and the dead carried out at the back.He gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow.Pieter Brueghel the YoungerBrueghel the Younger, who put the works of mercy into an ordinary street rather than an allegory.Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, AntwerpThe Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:1-12aMt 5:1-12a
Second Reading1 Cor. 1:26-311 Cor 1:26-31
First ReadingZeph. 2:3; 3:12-13Zep 2:3; 3:12-13
Responsorial PsalmPs. 146:6-7, 8-9a, 9b-10 (Matthew 5:3)Ps 146:6-7, 8-9a, 9b-10 (Mt 5:3)

Overview & Insights

"The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind." (Psalm 146:7-8)

The psalmist lists what the Lord does for the powerless: securing justice for the oppressed, feeding the hungry, freeing captives, and lifting up those who are bowed down. The refrain praises God who keeps faith forever, unlike the princes the psalm warns against trusting.

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Take it further: Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9a, 9b-10 (Matthew 5:3)

Commentary

Commentary on Psalm 146Commentary on Ps 146 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on the psalm's catalog of God's care for the hungry, the captive, and the bowed down.

Psalm 146:6 CommentariesPs 146:6 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on the Lord as maker of heaven and earth who keeps faith forever.

Psalm 146 - Treasury of DavidPs 146 - Treasury of David StudyLight · Spurgeon

Spurgeon's Treasury of David verse by verse on why the psalmist trusts God rather than princes.

Psalm 146 CommentaryPs 146 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse reading of the psalm's list of the Lord's mercies to the needy.

The Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre's Catholic exegesis linking the psalm's blessings to the Beatitudes proclaimed this Sunday.

The Church Fathers

Psalm 146Ps 146 Catena

Verse-by-verse comment from the Fathers on Psalm 146.

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