God's Action in History Is Secret of Believer's Serenity, Says Pope

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 6, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The certainty that God intervenes in history and will have the last say, is what constitutes the foundation of the believer's serenity, says John Paul II.

"This is our great hope and our invocation: 'Your Kingdom come!' -- a Kingdom of peace, justice, and serenity, which will re-establish the original harmony of creation," the Pope said during his address at today's general audience.

Continuing his series of mediations on Old Testament hymns, he focused on Psalm 97(98), which begins with the words "Sing a new song to the Lord."

It is described as a "new song," the Holy Father said, "which in biblical language means a perfect, full, solemn song accompanied by festive music."

The Psalm presents God "while he carries out salvation in history and is awaited to govern the world and peoples," thus bringing "peace and justice" on earth, the Pope said, as he addressed 7,000 pilgrims gathered in Paul VI Hall.

According to the hymn of praise, these signs of salvation are revealed "to the nations" and to "the ends of the earth" so that "the whole of humanity will be attracted to God and be open to his word and to his salvific work," the Pope added.

He said that the Apostle Paul used this song to express the theme of his Letter to the Romans: in the Gospel "the righteousness of God is revealed" and "is manifested."

"Read in the perspective of the Old Testament, the Psalm proclaims that God saves his people and that all the nations, seeing this, are in admiration," the Pope said. "However, in the Christian perspective, God works salvation in Christ."

Now "the ends of the earth not only have seen the victory of our God, but have received it," he said.