VATICAN CITY, APR 2, 2003 (VIS) - The canticle of the prophet Isaiah, "Hymns to the Lord, victorious and savior," was the theme of John Paul II's catechesis during today's general audience celebrated in St. Peter's Square.
The canticle in Chapter 42 of the Book of Isaiah, composed at the time of the Jews' return from exile in Babylon, opens with a call to "sing a new song to the Lord" and to praise Him, because He liberates His people and brings them salvation, said the Pope. "All the inhabitants of the earth are invited to form an immense choir to praise the Lord with joy and to give Him glory."
The Holy Father affirmed that the Lord "remained silent for a long time, that is, He did not intervene. This divine silence is frequently the cause of bewilderment, and even scandal, for the just. ... However, this silence does not indicate absence, as if history were left in the hands of the perverse and the Lord were indifferent and detached." In this silence, he added, "God makes a new world emerge, an era of freedom and salvation. ... The path becomes easier and hope flourishes, making it possible to continue to trust in God and in a future of peace and joy."
"Every day," he concluded, "the believer must know how to discern the signs of divine action, even when it seems hidden due to the passing of time, apparently monotonous and without purpose. ... To discover this divine presence with faithful eyes in space and time, but also in ourselves, is a source of hope and faith, even if our heart is troubled. ... In fact, the Lord enters the scene to rule and judge 'the world with justice and all peoples with truth'."
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