Psalm 97 (98)
The Lord has brought salvation
“This psalm tells of the first coming of the Lord and of the faith of all peoples” (St Athanasius).
Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.
Sing psalms to the Lord with the harp
with the sound of music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
acclaim the King, the Lord.
Let the sea and all within it, thunder;
the world, and all its peoples.
Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills ring out their joy.
Rejoice at the presence of the Lord,
for he comes to rule the earth.
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with fairness.
Catechesis by Pope St John Paul II on Psalm 97 (98)
General Audience, Wednesday 6 November 2002 - also in French, German, Italian, Portuguese & Spanish
Week III, Wednesday Lauds: The triumph of the Lord at his final coming
v 1.3.5-6
"1. Psalm 97[98], just proclaimed, belongs to a kind of hymn we have already met during the spiritual journey we are undertaking in the light of the Psalter.
This is a hymn to the Lord King of the universe and of history (cf. v. 6). It is described as a "new song" (cf. v. 1), which, in biblical language, means a perfect, full, solemn song accompanied by festive music. In fact, in addition to the choral song, the Psalmist evokes "the melodious sound" of the lyre (cf. v. 5), the trumpet and the horn (cf. v. 6), and also a kind of cosmic applause (cf. v. 8).
Moreover, the name of the "Lord" resounds repeatedly (six times), invoked as "our God" (v. 3). Hence, God is at the centre of the scene in all his majesty, while he carries out salvation in history and is awaited to "govern" the world and the peoples (cf. v. 9). The Hebrew verb that indicates "judgment" also means "to govern": so all await the effective action of the Sovereign of the entire earth who will usher in peace and justice.
2. The Psalm opens with the proclamation of divine intervention at the heart of the history of Israel (cf. vv. 1-3). The images of the "right hand" and the "holy arm" refer to Exodus, to the deliverance from the slavery of Egypt (cf. v. 1). Instead, the covenant with the chosen people is remembered through the two great divine perfections: "love" and "faithfulness" (cf. v. 3).
These signs of salvation are revealed "before the eyes of the peoples" and to "all the ends of the earth" (vv. 2.3) so that all humanity may be attracted to God the Saviour and open to his word and to his saving work.
3. The welcome reserved for the Lord, who intervenes in history is marked by a universal praise: in addition to the orchestra and the hymns of the Temple of Zion (cf. vv. 5-6), the universe, as a kind of cosmic temple, also participates.
There are four singers of this immense choir of praise. The first is the roaring sea, that seems to be the constant basso of this grandiose hymn (cf. v. 7). The earth and the entire world (cf. vv. 4.7) with all its inhabitants follow united in solemn harmony. The third personification is that of the rivers, that are considered the arms of the sea which, with their rhythmic flow, seem to clap hands in applause (cf. v. 8). Finally, there are the mountains that seem to dance for joy before the Lord, even though they are the most massive and imposing creatures (cf. v. 8; Ps 28[29],6; 113[114],6).
So we have a colossal choir that has only one purpose: to exalt the Lord, King and just Judge. As mentioned, the end of the Psalm, in fact, presents God, "who comes to govern (and to rule) the earth ... with justice and equity" (Ps 97 [98],9).
This is the great hope and our petition: "Your Kingdom come" - a kingdom of peace, justice, and serenity, that will re-establish the original harmony of creation.
4. In this Psalm, with deep joy the Apostle Paul has recognized a prophecy of the work of God in the mystery of Christ. Paul made use of verse 2 to express the theme of his important Letter to the Romans: in the Gospel, the "justice of God is revealed" (cf. Rom 1,17), "is manifested" (cf. Rom 3,21).
The interpretation made by Paul confers on the Psalm a greater fullness of meaning. 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. However, in the Christian perspective, God works salvation in Christ, Son of Israel; all the nations see him and are invited to benefit from this salvation, since the Gospel "is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith, for the Jew first, and then for the Greek", namely the pagan (Rom 1,16). Moreover, "all the ends of the earth" not only "have seen the victory of our God" (Ps 97[98],3), but have received it.
5. In this perspective Origen, a Christian writer of the third century, in a text quoted by St Jerome, interprets the "new song" of the Psalm as an anticipated celebration of the Christian newness of the crucified Redeemer. Now let us listen to his commentary in which he combines the song of the Psalmist with the proclamation of the Gospel.
"A new song is the Son of God who was crucified - something that had never before been heard of. A new reality must have a new song. "Sing to the Lord a new song'. He who suffered the Passion is in reality a man; but you sing to the Lord. He suffered the Passion as a man, but saved as God". Origen continues: Christ "did miracles in the midst of the Jews: he healed paralytics, cleansed lepers, raised up the dead. But other prophets also did this. He changed a few loaves into an enormous number, and gave countless people something to eat. But Elisha did this. Now, what new thing did he do to merit a new song? Do you want to know what new thing he did? God died as a man so that men might have life; the Son of Man was crucified to raise us up to heaven" (74 Omelie sul libro dei Salmi [74 Homilies on the Book of Psalms], Milan, 1993, pp. 309-310)."
Saluti:
"I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those from Denmark, Malta, India and the United States of America. Upon you and your families I invoke an abundance of divine blessings.
Je suis heureux d’accueillir les francophones présents ce matin, notamment ceux qui viennent de France, de Suisse et du Canada. Puisse votre séjour affermir votre foi et faire de vous des témoins de l’Évangile!
Von Herzen heiße ich die Pilger und Besucher aus den deutschsprachigen Ländern willkommen. Mein besonderer Gruß gilt heute den Teilnehmern der Rom-Seminare des Collegium Orientale Eichstätt und des Bistums Hildesheim. Laßt nicht nach, die Heilstaten Gottes der Welt zu künden. Singt stets aufs Neue das Lob des Herrn!
Saúdo, com votos de paz e alegria, os peregrinos de língua portuguesa. De modo especial saúdo os brasileiros da Comunidade Canção Nova, que está celebrando Vinte e Cinco anos de fundação. Peço a Deus que esta visita a Roma possa contribuir a evangelizar, com renovado ardor missionário, vossas famílias e comunidades. Com a minha Bênção Apostólica, extensiva a vossos seres queridos.
Saludo a los peregrinos de lengua española, invitando a todos a alabar al Señor por haber manifestado su grandeza y su misericordia a todos los pueblos. Llevad también mi saludo a vuestros hogares y comunidades. Gracias por vuestra presencia.
Ik groet nu alle Nederlandse en Belgische pelgrims ! Moge uw bedevaart naar de graven van de Apostelen uw liefde en inzet voor de Kerk in uw land versterken. Van harte verleen ik u de Apostolische Zegen. Geloofd zij Jezus Christus !
Srdačno pozdravljam sve nazočne hrvatske hodočasnike. Predragi, udjeljujući apostolski blagoslov svakome pojedinom od vas i vašim obiteljima, od srca želim da znadete biti navjestitelji i svjedoci kršćanske nade u sredini u kojoj živite i radite. Hvaljen Isus i Marija!
Srdečně zdravím profesory a žáky Obchodní akademie v Jindřichově Hradci! Podle zbožné tradice, listopad je měsícem modliteb za zesnulé. Člověk byl stvořen, aby věčně žil. Proto mějme na zřeteli Kristovo nabádání: "Bděte, neboť nevíte dne ani hodiny." (Mt 25,13). Ze srdce vám uděluji své požehnání! Chvála Kristu!
Szeretettel köszöntöm a magyar híveket, különösen is a pécsi Nagy Lajos Ciszterci Gimnázium diákjait. Isten hozott Benneteket! Tegnap ünnepeltétek Szent Imre ünnepét, aki a magyar ifjúság védőszentje. Az ő közbenjárását kérve, szívesen adom apostoli áldásomat. Dicsértessék a Jézus Krisztus!
Pozdrawiam pielgrzymów z Polski. Jeszcze raz dziękuję Wam za przybycie z okazji św. Karola. Dzisiaj, wciąz jeszcze w atmosferze liturgicznego wspomnienia zmarłych, rozwazamy słowa Psalmu 98. Mówi on o przyjściu Pana na końcu czasów i o ostatecznym zbawieniu człowieka, które w jakiś sposób obejmuje równiez całą ziemię i cały stworzony świat: "Ujrzały wszystkie krańce ziemi zbawienie Boga naszego. Radonie wykrzykuj na cześć Pana cała ziemio, cieszcie się i weselcie, i grajcie! (...) On będzie sądził świat sprawiedliwie i ludy wedħug słuszności". Opierąc się na tych natchnionych słowach z nadzieją moźemy się modlić: "Przyjdź królestwo Twoje" - królestwo sprawiedliwości i pokoju, radości i harmonii przywróconej całemu stworzeniu. Niech Wam Bóg błogosławi!
Rivolgo un cordiale pensiero ai pellegrini di lingua italiana. In particolare, saluto i partecipanti al "Corso di formazione permanente per missionari", promosso dalla Pontificia Università salesiana. Carissimi, auspico che queste giornate di studio sulle tematiche legate al lavoro missionario suscitino in voi un rinnovato entusiasmo nell’annunziare Cristo a tutti i popoli.
I also greet the representatives of the Community of Sant'Egidio who have come to Rome from several continents for the international convention on the theme "The Gospel of Peace". Dearly beloved, may this gathering inspire in each of you the resolution to promote justice and peace in every situation.
Finally, I address you young people, sick persons and newly-weds. Dear young people, plan your future in full fidelity to the Gospel and grow according to the teaching and example of Jesus. Dear sick persons, offer your sufferings to the Lord so that, thanks to your sharing in his sufferings, he may extend his saving work throughout the world. Dear newly-weds, in the life you have begun, may you be guided by a living faith, so that your family may be inspired by an intense apostolic fervour."