LORD, why cast you off my soul? why hide you your face from me?
Read Chapter 88
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
12. But that those prayers, the blessings of which surpass all words, may be more fervent and more constant, the gift that shall last unto eternity is deferred, while transitory evils are allowed to thicken. And so it follows: "Lord, why hast Thou cast off my prayer?" (ver. 14), which may be compared with another Psalm: "My God, My God, look upon me; why hast Thou forsaken me?" The reason is made matter of question, not as if the wisdom of God were blamed as doing so without a cause; and so here. "Lord, why hast Thou cast off my prayer?" But if this cause be attended to carefully, it will be found indicated above; for it is with the view that the prayers of the Saints are, as it were, repelled by the delay of so great a blessing, and by the adversity they encounter in the troubles of life, that the flame, thus fanned, may burst into a brighter blaze.
13. For this purpose he briefly sketches in what follows the troubles of Christ's body. For it is not in the Head alone that they took...
Prayer. Some copies of the Septuagint read "soul "with the Hebrew (Calmet)
Why dost thou neglect to grant my request, which I urge with all the earnestness of my soul? (Haydock)
This may relate to Jesus in the garden. (Calmet)
His prayer prevents, or is presented early, (Menochius) and with the truest fervour to the Lord, who moves us to pray. (Haydock)
