Bible TimePsalm 1: The Pope's Christmas Address
The Pope gave his Christmas address, titled “From the City to the World.” This marked the start in a new Psalm series.
Psalm 1
Theoretical Time:
- 12999-13-04 NH 04:4:15 AA
- 2008-12-25 21:29:42 TMMT
- 2008-12-25 19:08:48 GMT
- 2008-12-25 14:08:48 EST
Psalms 1
1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the way of the ungodly, nor stays in the counsel of sinners, nor sits in the company of mockers;
2but his delight is in the law of Yahvah, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3And he will be like a tree planted by a stream of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaves do not fall off; and whatever he begins he accomplishes.
4The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5Therefore the ungodly will not be justified in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6for Yahvah knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly will perish.
From the City to the World
Pope's Christmas Address: URBI ET ORBI, From the City to the World
Fulfillment for this date comes from the Pope's Christmas address. Like Jesus reading from the Isaiah scroll, where he announced the beginning of his public ministry the text of the 2008 Christmas address centered on how Christmas, and the celebration of the Savior's birth, marks the beginning of the incarnation as it eventually spread out to the world.
This is a match to the text at the start of Luke 4, where Jesus is taken to the holy city, atop the temple, and then shown the peoples of the world. The address was of course given from the Vatican, the last incarnation of the 500 year temple pattern begun with Jacob's dream of a ladder to heaven. The Pope does, of course, look out on the crowds like Jesus did in his temptation.
The text of Psalm 1 is on a similar topic, avoiding the counsel of sinners, meditating on God's Law. (This is, of course, how Jesus answers in his temptation.)
The full text of the speech is on the Vatican Website.
Video is on the BBC website.
Notes
This is also a match to the text beginning at Luke chapter 4, where Jesus begins a series of parables matched to the Psalms. In this case simply a beginning, where he reads from the Isaiah scroll and sits down.
43 Luke 4:1-20
1Now Jesus, full of the holy spirit, returned from the Jordan, and the spirit carried him away into the wilderness
240 days, in order that he might be tempted by the adversary. And he did not eat anything in those days; and when they were over, at last, he became hungry.
3And the adversary said to him, If you are the son of god, command this stone to become bread.
4Jesus answered, saying to him, It is written, It is not by bread alone that man can live, but by every word of god. (5:8:3)
5Then the accuser took him up to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the land in a short time.
6And the adversary said to him, I will give you all this power and its glory, which are entrusted to me and I give it to whom I please;
7therefore if you worship me it will all be yours.
8Jesus answered, saying to him, It is written, You will worship master your god, and him only you will serve. (5:6:13)
9And he brought him to Jerusalem and made him to stand up on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you are the son of god, throw yourself down from here;
10for it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, to keep watch over you;
11and they will take you up in their arms, so that even your foot may not strike a stone. (26:91:11)
12Jesus answered, saying to him, It is said, You will not tempt master your god. (5:6:16)
13When the adversary was through with all his temptations, he left him awhile.
14So Jesus returned in the power of the spirit to Galilee; and his fame went out through all the surrounding country.
15And he taught in their synagogues, and was praised by every man.
16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he entered the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was the custom, and stood up to read.
17And the book of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. And Jesus opened the book and found the place where it is written,
18The spirit of master is on me; because of this, he has anointed me to proclaim thoughts to the poor; and he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, and to proclaim release to the captives and sight to the blind; to strengthen with forgiveness those who are bruised
19and to preach the acceptable year of master. (13:61:1)
20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it to the attendant, and went and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on him.