VATICAN - The Pope’s weekly audience teaching: “Christ is the Lord of the history of salvation, which is manifested in the Church and achieved through the blood of his cross, source of peace and harmony for the entire human vicissitude ”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “From the hymn there emerges the magnificent figure of Christ, Lord of the cosmos. Like divine Wisdom-Creator exalted in the Old Testament, «He is before all else that is. In him everything continues in being»; indeed «In him everything in heaven and on earth was created …through him and for him». There unfurls then in the universe a transcendent plan which God achieves through his Son.” This was how Pope John Paul II commented a passage of St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians during his weekly Wednesday Audience in St Peter’s Square on May 5. The subject of the Holy Father’s reflection was the Canticle “Christ was the beginning, the first-born of those who rise from the dead” Vespers Wednesday week 1 (reading: Col 1,3.12-15.17).
“The Canticle of the Letter to the Colossians presents another of Christ’s functions- the Pope said -. He is also the Lord of the history of salvation manifested in the Church and achieved «through the blood of His cross», source of peace and harmony for the entire human vicissitude. Therefore not only the external horizon is marked by the effective presence of Christ, but also the more specific reality of the human creature, that is, history. The latter is not left at the mercy of blind irrational forces, instead, although in a state of sin, it is sustained and directed - through Christ’s salvation - towards fullness of life. Thus through the Cross of Christ all of reality is «reconciled» with the Father. Thus the hymn traces a marvellous fresco of the universe and of history inviting us to have confidence. Far from being a useless speck of dust, lost in space and time without meaning, we are part of a wonderful plan born of the love of the Father.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/5/2004 - Righe 17; Parole 276)