11 000 mennesker var samlet på Petersplassen i går og hørte pave Benedikt holde sitt siste foredrag om Bibelens salmer. Og han avsluttet sin gjennomgang av salmenes bok slik:
the Pope explained that, in the course of his catechesis dedicated to the Psalms, he had sought to focus on those «that reflect the different situations in life and the various attitudes we may have towards God. I would like to renew my call to everyone to pray the Psalms, to become accustomed to using the Liturgy of the Hours, Lauds, Vespers, and Compline. Our relationship with God can only be enriched by our journeying towards Him day after day».
Og siste salme han tok opp var numemr 110 (109):
1 Herren sier til min herre: «Sett deg ved min høyre hånd til jeg får lagt dine fiendersom skammel for dine føtter!»
2 Fra Sion rekker Herren ut ditt mektige septer. Du skal herske blant dine fiender!
3 Folket ditt møter villig fram den dagen du viser din kraft. Din ungdoms dugg kommer til degi hellig prakt, fra morgenrødens fang.
4 Herren har sverget og angrer det ikke: «Du er prest til evig tid på Melkisedeks vis.»
5 Herren er ved din høyre hånd, han knuser konger på sin vredes dag.
6 Han holder dom over folkeslag, det er fullt av lik, han knuser hoder vidt over jord.
7 Han drikker av bekken ved veien, derfor løfter han hodet høyt.
Om denne salmen sa paven bl.a.:
The Psalm begins with a solemn declaration: «The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool». Benedict XVI explained that «Christ is the Lord enthroned, the Son of man seated at the right hand of God. … He is the true king who by resurrection entered into glory, … higher than the angels, seated in the heavens over all other powers, … and with all His adversaries at His feet until the last enemy, death, is definitively defeated by Him». …
… The priestly dimension, linked to that of regality, appears in verse four. «The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek'». This priest, the king of Salem, had blessed Abraham and offered bread and wine following the victorious military campaign conducted by the patriarch to save Lot from the hands of his enemies. The king of the Psalm «will be a priest forever, mediator of the divine presence among His people, a catalyst for the blessing of God». Jesus Christ «is the true and definitive priest, Who will complete and perfect the features of Melchizedek’s priesthood». In the bread and wine of the Eucharist, Christ «offers Himself and, defeating death, brings life to all believers». …
… The Church traditionally considers this Psalm as one of the most significant messianic texts. «The king as sung by the Psalmist is Christ, the Messiah Who establishes the Kingdom of God and overcomes the powers of the world. He is the Word generated by God before any creature, the Son incarnate, Who died and rose to heaven, the eternal Priest Who, in the mystery of the bread and wine, grants forgiveness for sins and reconciliation with God; the King Who raised his head in triumph over death by His resurrection». …