Psalm 22 (21):15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Translation from English. Preferably corrected from the Latin original. I was poured out like water; my bones were all dispersed. I was poured out like water as my adversaries faltered; and in their fear, the foundation of My Body, which is the Church, caused My disciples to scatter from Me (Matthew 26:56). My heart was softened like wax, melting within the depths of my being. My wisdom, as recorded in the sacred texts, appeared challenging and inaccessible, but then, as the intensity of My Passion drew near, it seemed to soften, to open, and to be embraced by the remembrance of My Church.

As water flows away, all my bones are scattered. He refers to the holy architects of the mysteries as His bones. Since the Church represents His body, it is fitting to perceive those who nurture it as its bones. The Evangelist tells us that when the soldiers seized Him, His disciples dispersed and fled like water that has been spilled across the land. In another sense, the sacred teachings of the Church serve as the bones of wisdom, which the law instructed the Jews not to fracture during the Passover. It is written, ‘And the bones shall not be broken from him’ (Exodus 12:46). My heart was as wax melting, a phrase that captures profound sorrow, for it is stated, ‘My heart began to grieve and to mourn’ (Matthew 26:37). He grieved for the people of Israel and for the betrayer, whose wickedness had led to their own destruction.

"‘As water is poured out, and all my bones are scattered.’ He refers to the holy Apostles as bones, just as he designates the Church as the body; the bones serve as the foundation that supports all that is fragile and perishable within the body. During their trials, all the Apostles were dispersed, divided in various directions like water."

As water is poured out and all my bones were dispersed. The Lord, as noted by Theodoret, refers to His Apostles as bones because they support and uphold the spiritual body of His Church, just as bones support the physical body. Thus, according to the scripture, they were scattered during the time of His suffering. For all had abandoned Him and were dispersed, as stated by the Evangelist (Matt. 26:56). Zechariah also foretold this, declaring, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered” (Zechariah 13:7), referring to the apostles' movement and separation from Christ as a “shedding.” My heart was like wax melting within my innards. He indicates that my heart was consumed by sorrow, similar to how wax melts in fire, and was utterly spent. Furthermore, the term “womb” does not denote the womb itself but signifies the entirety of the emptiness or receptacle within the body.

Breaking and strengthening Just as its fracture is irreparable, so its fortification is commendable. The greater the hardness of the potter's creation, the more resilient and superior it becomes.

Until now, the Prophet has expressed his current hardships, illustrating how he is beset by enemies, akin to wild beasts, and is perilously close to death, perpetually fearing being consumed. However, in this moment, he laments his inner anguish. This reveals that he was deeply affected by his troubles, and thus, his sorrow was not merely superficial; instead, it inundated his very soul, shattering his strength and softening his heart. David was not unaffected like a stone amidst crashing waves; rather, he was like a reed, swayed by his inner distress. Indeed, he could not have surmounted such trials through his own frail humanity, were it not for the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Christ the Redeemer was poured out like water, as from the cross flowed blood and water for the world's redemption. The bones signify the strength of the body; the apostles understood the bones of Christ to represent those who were separated when His followers abandoned Him, in accordance with the Lord’s words, "The hour cometh, that ye be scattered every one into his own place" (Matt. 26:31; John 16:32). Additionally, the bones of Christ’s body on the cross were cruelly stretched and affected by intense suffering. Just as wax becomes liquid in the heat of the flame, the human spirit is weakened by fear and anguish.