Psalms — Chapter 40

BEATUS QUI INTELLEGIT SUPER EGENUM ET PAUPEREM. Lapide: Psalm 40 — "Blessed is he that understandeth concerning the needy and the poor: the Lord will deliver him." Lapide: "intellegit" — not merely feels sympathy but UNDERSTANDS: sees the needy person in their dignity as God's image, discerns their true need (not always what they ask for), and acts accordingly. The social duty of the strong toward the weak is here given its theological foundation: care for the poor is the test of authentic faith.