VATICAN - In his teaching at the Wednesday general audience Pope Benedict XVI explains psalm 138: “the Lord’s hand is always ready to take our hand to lead us on our earthly journey. His is a presence not of judgement which strikes terror but of support and liberation”

Wednesday, 14 December 2005

Vatican City (Fides Service) - In his teaching at the general Wednesday audience this morning in St Peter’s Square Pope Benedict XVI explained the first two verses of psalm 138 (138,1-12, “God sees everything”, vespers Wednesday week 4), which “praise respectively the omniscience of God and his omnipresence in space and time. “The vigorous images and expressions serve to celebrate the Creator” the Pope explained. “With his meditation the psalmist wishes above all to penetrate the mystery of God, transcendent yet close”.
The substance of the message is that “God knows everything and is with his creature who cannot escape him. However his presence is not threatening or inspecting, although certainly he looks with severity on evil to which he is not indifferent. Nevertheless the fundamental element is that of a presence which saves embracing all existence and all history.” While the first part is a celebration of God’s omniscience the second part of the psalm is dedicated to God’s omnipresence: “it is a vivid description of mankind’s illusory desire to escape that presence. The whole of space is travelled… every part of space, even the most secret contains the active presence of God. The psalmist continues, introducing another reality in which we are immersed, time… even darkness in which it is difficult to advance and see, is penetrated by the eye and epiphany of the Lord of all existence and time. “the Lord’s hand is always ready to take ours to guide us on our earthly journey. His is a presence of help and liberation rather than judgement which strikes terror.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 14/12/2005, righe 20, parole 293)


Share: