Psalm 42 (41):10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Another voice similarly lamented: “I said in a frenzy (in rapture upon witnessing remarkable wonders), I said in a frenzy: I am cast out of the sight of Thy eyes.” For he contrasted his present condition with the elevation from which he had once been taken, realizing he was distanced from God’s gaze, and thus he asks, "Why hast Thou rejected me?" Why do I wander in sorrow while my adversary afflicts me, breaking my bones? Even my tempter, the devil, intensifies his assaults, and offenses multiply, causing love to grow cold among many (Matt. 24:12). When we observe even the strong members giving in to these trials, does not the body of Christ cry out, "The enemy breaks my bones?" For strong members can be seen as bones; indeed, even the mightiest can falter under temptation. Any member of the Body of Christ who contemplates this will surely lament with the voice of the Body, asking, "Why hast Thou rejected me?" Why do I wander in grief when my adversary afflicts me, when he breaks my bones? You witness not only my flesh but also my bones. Observe those once thought strong who succumb to temptation, leading the weaker brethren to despair when they see the strong fall; how perilous, my brothers, is this situation!

This lamentation does not imply that believers have entirely turned away from God; rather, if they did not believe they were under His care, they would not reach out to Him. Instead, they voice these concerns due to the frailty of their humanity, even as they hold fast to the assurance that God watches over them and is attentive to their cries.

Just as a stag, whether in heat, stung by a serpent, or having consumed toxic plants, desperately seeks water in its intense thirst, the devout soul should earnestly long for God and joyfully endure adversities, for it has been granted to us by Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:29). The intricate reality of the Holy Trinity is reflected: God the Father, the Almighty Son, the Living Holy Spirit, leading voices for all creation and for every disciple of Christ. The Church of Christ serves as the abode of the faithful. The Blessed Mother, the living throne of God, and the heavenly altar symbolize this. Our souls are temples of God, housing His Spirit within. Place your trust in Christ, the brightness of the Father. Whoever beheld the Son of God and the Son of Man sees the Father in heaven as well. The prophet exclaimed, ‘I am a stranger on earth, and a stranger like all my fathers’ (Psalm 38:13). We too shall find ourselves removed when it pleases God. The Lord sanctified Himself as the Son of Man so that humanity might be consecrated through baptism and within the Church, guided by God's grace. The boundless ocean of grace is God, while humanity grapples with sin. Difficulties descending from above come from God. The desires of the flesh, the allure of the eyes, the pride of worldly existence, and temptations wage war, prompting the Christian to seek divine assistance through prayer. The depth of my sins demands the depth of God’s mercy, and I believe that the vastness of His mercy will triumph over the multitude of my sins if I genuinely call upon it. Unceasing prayer is mandated for all, along with the struggle against passions, the fulfillment of divine commandments, and the pursuit of a virtuous life both day and night. As the Jews crucified Christ, His holy side was pierced by nails.