GENERAL AUDIENCE: EXALTATION OF THE POWER OF GOD THE CREATOR

VATICAN CITY, JUL 3, 2002 (VIS) - Psalm 92, "Exaltation of the power of God the Creator," was the theme of the catechesis of the Pope during the general audience celebrated this Wednesday in the Paul VI Hall.

John Paul II affirmed that Psalm 92 "exalts the kingdom of God, source of peace, truth and love, that we invoke in the 'Our Father' when we say: 'Thy kingdom come'.

"The psalmist," he said, "celebrates the royalty of God, his efficacious and saving action, creator of the world and redeemer of humanity. The Lord is not a distant ruler, who reigns from afar. On the contrary, he is present in the midst of his people, as a powerful saviour, great in love."

After emphasizing that the psalmist makes reference "to the 'voice' of the rivers, that is, to the turbulence of its waters", the Holy Father said: "In the face of the force of nature, man feels insignicant", which is a reason to "exalt the much greater power of the Lord."

"The Fathers of the Church," he continued, "like to comment on this psalm, applying it to Christ 'Lord and Saviour'. ... However, God, sovereign of all things, omnipotent and invincible is always close to his people."

The Pope concluded by indicating that the psalm "is a prayer that instills faith and hope in the faithful who often feel distressed, fearing that they will be consumed by the tempests of history and the blows by the dark forces at work."

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