[percy-l] The Pope on lost in the cosmos fyi

Tpmonaghan at aol.com Tpmonaghan at aol.com
Thu May 6 11:45:32 EDT 2004


Reflection on the Canticle in Colossians 1
Christ Is Lord of Cosmos and of History, Says Pope 

VATICAN CITY, MAY 5, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of John Paul 
II's address at today's general audience, which he dedicated to comment on a 
hymn in the first chapter of the Letter to the Colossians. 

* * * 

1. We have heard the marvelous Christological hymn of the Letter to the 
Colossians. The Liturgy of Vespers proposes it to the faithful in the four weeks in 
which it is articulated as a canticle, a character that it had, perhaps, from 
its origins. In fact, many scholars believe that the hymn might be the 
quotation of a song of the Churches of Asia Minor, included by Paul in the letter 
addressed to the Christian community of Colossae, a city that was then 
flourishing and populous. 

The apostle, however, never went to this center of Phrygia, a region of 
present-day Turkey. The local Church was founded by Epaphras, one of his disciples, 
a native of those lands. He appears at the end of the letter together with 
the evangelist Luke, "the beloved physician," as St. Paul calls him (4:14), and 
with another figure, Mark, the "cousin of Barnabas" (4:10), perhaps the same 
companion of Barnabas and Paul (see Acts 12:25; 13:5,13), who later became an 
evangelist. 

2. As we will have several occasions in the future to return to this 
canticle, we will limit ourselves now to an overall glance at it and to evoke a 
spiritual commentary, written by a famous Father of the Church, St. John Chrysostom 
(fourth century), noted orator and bishop of Constantinople. In the hymn, the 
grandiose figure of Christ emerges, Lord of the cosmos. Like the divine 
creative Wisdom exalted by the Old Testament (see, for example, Proverbs 8:22-31), 
"He is before all things, and in him all things hold together"; in fact, "all 
things were created through him and for him" (Colossians 1:16-17). 

Therefore, a transcendent plan unfolds in the universe which reveals that God 
acts through the work of his Son. This is also proclaimed in the prologue of 
John's Gospel, when he states that "All things came to be through him, and 
without him nothing came to be" (John 1:3). Also matter with its energy, life and 
light bear the imprint of the Word of God, "his beloved Son" (Colossians 
1:13). The revelation of the New Testament casts a new light on the words of the 
wise man of the Old Testament, who said that "from the greatness and the beauty 
of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen" (Wisdom 13:5). 

3. The canticle of the Letter to the Colossians presents another function of 
Christ: He is also the Lord of the history of salvation, which is manifested 
in the Church (see Colossians 1:18) and is accomplished by the "blood of his 
cross" (verse 20), source of peace and harmony for all human history. 

Therefore, not only the horizon that is external to our existence is marked 
by the efficacious presence of Christ, but also the more specific reality of 
the human creature, namely, history. The latter is not at the mercy of blind and 
irrational forces; instead, despite sin and evil, it is ruled and oriented -- 
by the work of Christ -- toward fullness. Through the cross of Christ, the 
whole of reality is "reconciled" with the Father (see verse 20). 

The hymn paints, in this way, a wonderful picture of the universe and of 
history, inviting us to trust. We are not a useless speck of dust, lost in space 
and time without meaning, but we are part of a wise plan that stems from the 
love of the Father. 

4. As announced, we now give the word to St. John Chrysostom, so that he will 
be the one who crowns this reflection. In his Commentary on the Letter to the 
Colossians he reflects at length on this canticle. At the beginning he 
underlines the gratuitousness of the gift of God "who has made it possible for us to 
participate in the destiny of the saints in light" (verse 12). "Why does he 
call it 'destiny'?" Chrysostom asks, and he answers: "To show that no one can 
obtain the Kingdom with his own works. Also here, as in the majority of cases, 
'destiny' has the sense of 'fortune.' No one can have a behavior that is able 
to merit the Kingdom, but everything is gift of the Lord. This is why he says: 
'When you have done everything, say: We are useless servants. We have done 
what we should do'" (Greek Patrology 62,312). 

This benevolent and powerful gratuitousness re-emerges further on, when we 
read that all things were created through Christ (see Colossians 1:16). "From 
him depends the substance of all things," the bishop explains. "Not only does he 
make them pass from non-being to being, but it is also he who sustains them, 
so that if they were removed from his providence, they would perish and 
dissolve. ... They depend on him: in fact, it suffices for them only to incline 
toward him for him to sustain and reinforce them" (Greek Patrology 62,319). 

And an even greater sign of gratuitous love is all that Christ has done for 
the Church, of which he is the Head. In this connection (see verse 18), 
Chrysostom explains, "after having spoken of the dignity of Christ, the Apostle also 
speaks of his love for men: 'He is the head of his body, which is the Church,' 
wishing to show his intimate communion with us. He, in fact, who is so far 
above and superior to all, united himself to those who are below" (Greek 
Patrology 62,320). 

[Translation by ZENIT] 

[At the end of the audience, an aide of the Holy Father read the following 
summary in English:] 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Today's canticle depicts a marvelous vision of the history of the world with 
Christ at its center as Lord of the cosmos. Through the beloved Son, in whom 
everything in heaven and earth is created, all people are drawn into God's 
transcendent plan for humanity. 

Far from being without reason or direction, we are redeemed by Christ and 
directed to the fullness of life to which the Father, in his love, calls us. 

St. John Chrysostom reminds us that it is in the Church -- the body of Christ 
-- that we most especially experience God's providence and gratuitous love 
for us. Let us respond with joy to that intimate communion which we are 
privileged to share. 

[The Pope then greeted pilgrims in several languages. In English, he said:] 

I extend a special welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims here today, 
especially the Vozrozhdeniye Choir from Moscow and other groups from England, 
Thailand, Japan and the United States of America. Upon all of you I invoke the 
grace and peace of the Risen Lord, and wish you a happy stay in Rome. 
ZE04050503

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