(12 Nov 08 - RV) Pilgrims in St Peter’s Square wrapped themselves warm against the
November chill this Wednesday as they greeted Pope Benedict XVI and prepared to hear
the latest instalment in his lessons on St Paul. This the ninth
in the series was the second to focus on the Saint’s proclamation of Christ’s death
and resurrection, linking this to his teaching on the Lord’s second coming:
“For
Paul, the Lord’s return at the end of time will be accompanied by the resurrection
of the dead and the consummation of his Kingdom, when all those who believed in him
and trusted in his promises “will be with him for ever” in glory (cf. 1 Thess 4:17).
Christ’s victorious reign has in fact already begun. Yet we, who have received the
Spirit as the first fruits of our redemption, patiently await the fulfilment of that
plan in our lives”. Pope Benedict told pilgrims that ''Without Christ’s presence
we will never really have a truly just and renewed world":
''Our life in this
world, marked by trials and tribulations, must be inspired by the hope of heaven and
the expectation of our resurrection to glory. Paul’s rich eschatology, linking the
“already” of Christ’s resurrection to the “not yet” of our life in this world, is
reflected in his statement that “in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24). This same joyful
expectation of the Lord’s return and the fulfilment of the Father’s saving plan is
seen in the ancient Christian prayer with which he concludes his first Letter to the
Corinthians: Maranà, thà! Come, Lord Jesus!”
Concluding Pope Benedict
remarked that “We do not want the end of the world, but we want the end of an unjust
world, we want that this world change profoundly, that a civilisation of love begin,
for a world of justice and peace, free of violence and fear”.
“How can this
happen” Pope Benedict asked “without Christ?”.