WALK IN THE WAY OF JUSTICE TO LIVE IN COMMUNION WITH GOD

VATICAN CITY, OCT 30, 2002 (VIS) - In this Wednesday's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, John Paul II spoke about the Canticle in Chapter 33 of the Book of Isaiah, "God will judge justly."

The Canticle begins with the announcement of God's "powerful and glorious entrance into human history. ... God's words are directed to those who are 'far off' and to those who are 'near', that is, to all nations of the earth, even the remotest, and to Israel, the people 'near' to the Lord due to the covenant."

The Holy Father indicated that "the greatest and most intense part of the Canticle is devoted to sanctity accepted and lived as a sign of imminent conversion and reconciliation with God." In order to "live in joyful communion with loyalty and sincerity, ... to fight the oppression of the poor and unjust wealth, ... to condemn political and judicial corruption, ... rejecting gifts in order to avert the application of the law."

Another condition to walk in communion with God, he continued, "is expressed with the significant gesture of 'closing one's ears' to suggestions that you commit bloody and violent acts." The last condition is expressed with the image of 'closing an eye', which in this case "is interpreted as an invitation to reject any complicity with evil."

John Paul II concluded by emphasizing that "he who chooses to follow this honest and just way of behavior will be able to enter the Lord's temple where he will receive the assurance of that exterior and interior well-being that God gives to those who are in communion with Him."

While greeting the faithful in different languages, the Holy Father recalled that the forthcoming celebrations of the solemnity of All Saints and of the commemoration of All Souls "invite all believers to consider the last and definitive realities that await us."

The Pope urged young people to have as their main objective "sanctity of life in order to prepare a future filled with blessings." To the sick he said: "May the example of the saints and their intercession help you to face with bravery the trials of life." Finally, he told newlyweds: "May the thought of our heavenly home ... guide your family to fidelity to Christ and to the full and reciprocal communion of love."

AG;CANTICLE ISAIAH;...;...;VIS;20021030;Word: 390;