VATICAN CITY, APR 3, 2002 (VIS) - Pope John Paul held this week's general audience in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 15,000 faithful. The catechesis focussed on Psalm 96 which, the Pope said, "celebrates God's Kingship and the manifestation of His divine glory upon the earth."
Psalm 96 opens, stated the Holy Father, with the solemn proclamation: "'The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad'. ... The psalmist describes the coming onto the world scene of the Great King who appears surrounded by a series of ministers or cosmic attendants: clouds, darkness, fire, lightning. Next to them, another series of ministers personifies His historic action: justice, law, glory. Their entrance makes all of creation tremble. The earth rejoices in all places, including islands, considered to be the most remote areas."
"The heavens," said the Pope, "are crossed by angelic hymns that exalt justice, that is, the work of salvation fulfilled by the Lord for the just." He added that the Psalm describes two types of reactions in the fact of the Great King and His entrance into history. On the one hand, idolaters and idols drop to earth confused and defeated; on the other hand, the faithful ... raise a joyful hymn of praise."
John Paul II concluded: "The advent of God's Kingdom is a source of liberation to the oppressed and joy to the upright of heart. During this Easter season, let us celebrate with renewed hope the glorious power of God revealed in the Resurrection, His definitive judgement upon sin and death and the advent of His Kingdom of holiness, justice and peace."
AG;PSALM 96;...;...;VIS;20020403;Word: 270;
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