The responsorial psalm in today’s lectionary readings was Psalm 117. This is the shortest chapter in the entire Bible, whether for you that is the Hebrew Bible or the Old and New Testaments. However, though it is the shortest chapter, it contains a profound statement of universalism. The text reads:

1 Praise the Lord, all nations! <p>
Extol him, all peoples! <p>
2 For his loyal love is great unto us, <p>
and the faithfulness of the Lord is forever. <p>
Praise the Lord!

The universalism of the psalm is made clear when one views the parallelisms that span from verse 1 and into verse 2.  In verse 1, the psalmist says “all nations” and “all peoples.”  Then in verse 2 the psalmist says “us.”  The only antecedent in the text for “us” is “all nations/peoples.”  One might claim that the antecedent is “Israel”; however, why would the nations praise the Lord for his steadfast love toward “Israel.”  Thus, the entire population of the earth is seen as one “us” that should be praising the Lord together.