VATICAN - The Pope’s teaching at the General Audience: unwavering trust in God “our refuge and our strength always near in times of anguish…the world and its vicissitudes are governed by the Lord ”

Wednesday, 16 June 2004

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Vatican City (Fides Service) - Psalm 45, which Pope John Paul II commented during his teaching at the Wednesday audience in St Peter’s Square, “celebrates the Holy City of Jerusalem, «the City of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High», and it also expresses unwavering trust in God who is for us «refuge and strength always near at times of anguish»”.
The psalm is divided into two parts by a sort of antiphon: «The Lord of hosts is with us, our refuge is the God of Jacob». “The title «Lord of hosts» is typical of Jewish worship in the temple in Zion- the Pope said - and despite the martial aspect, linked to the Ark of the Covenant, it speaks of the Lord’s dominion over the entire cosmos and history. This title is therefore a source of confidence, because the entire world and its vicissitudes are under the supreme government of the Lord .”
The first part of the Psalm focuses on the twofold significance of water: stormy waters, symbol of devastation, chaos and evil, and the quenching waters of Zion, sign of life, fecundity, and power. The second part of the Psalm describes the transfigured world: “The Lord himself from his throne in Zion intervenes with extreme vigour against wars and establishes the peace for which all peoples long ”.
“With this Psalm Christian tradition has always sung the praises of Christ «our peace» and our liberator from evil through his death and resurrection” the Pope concluded, recalling the Christological comment by Saint Ambrose who in verse 6 of the Psalm sees in the «help» offered to the city by the Lord «before the morning», as a “prophetic allusion to the resurrection.”
Greeting those present the Pope recalled that Friday is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,, “this feast recalls the mystery of the Love God has for all men and women of every era”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 16/6/2004 - Righe 23; Parole 306)