Vatican City ( AsiaNews ) - Many Christians worldwide suffer for their fidelity to Christ, perhaps more "today than in the first centuries . We are close to them with prayer and admiration, are brothers and sisters in the faith. Pray for them, we all pray for them", said the Pope during the Angelus today, developing on his comments on the Gospel passage that recounts Jesus description of "the end times" in Jerusalem. The Pope urged people not to place their trust in "gurus, false messiahs and sorcerers" who are "still" present in our world. And before he bid farewell to the faithful "I would suggest "a special medicine, called Misericordina. The Pope is not your pharmacist, but I invite you to take this little box that contains the Rosary and pray: it's good for us all."
The evangelist Luke writes, says the Pope, that the speech is pronounced by Christ "near the temple, and he was inspired by the people who talked about the temple and its beauty . Because it was beautiful at the time. Then Jesus said "the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down" (Lk 21:6) . Of course they ask : When will this happen? What will the signs be? But Jesus shifts the focus from these secondary aspects - when will it be? What will it be like? - the real issues . There are two. Firstly, do not be fooled by false messiahs and do not be paralyzed by fear. Second: live the time of waiting as a time of witness and perseverance . And we are in this time of waiting for the coming of the Lord".
Jesus' discourse, the Pope
immediately adds, "is always current, even for us who live in the XXI
century. He tells us :"Take heed that you not be deceived . Many will come
in my name" ( v. 8). It is a call
to discernment, this Christian virtue to understand the difference between the
spirit of the Lord and the spirit of evil. Even today, in fact, there are false
" saviors" , who attempt to substitute leaders of this world, holy
men , even sorcerers for Jesus, people who want to attract hearts and minds,
especially of young people, to themselves. Jesus warns us: "Do not follow
them". And the Lord also helps us
to not be afraid when faced with wars ,
revolutions , but also to natural disasters , epidemics, Jesus frees us from
fatalism and false apocalyptic visions . "
The
second aspect is a challenge for us as Christians and the Church: Jesus speaks
of the painful trials and persecutions that his disciples will have to suffer
because of Him . However
promises: "Not a hair of your head will perish " ( v.18 ) . In
short , said Francis, "reminds us that we are totally in the hands of God!
The adversity we meet for our faith and our commitment to the Gospel are
occasions of testimony and they should not turn us away from the Lord, but
force us to abandon ourselves to Him even more, to the power of his Spirit and
his grace. At this time, my thoughts and all our thoughts - let's do it
together - go to so many Christian brothers and sisters who suffer persecution
because of their faith. There are many of them, perhaps many more of the early
centuries. Jesus is with them, and also we are united with them with our
prayers and our love . We admire their courage and testimony. They are our
brothers and sisters, who in many parts of the world suffer for their fidelity
to Jesus Christ.
We send them our heartfelt greetings and our affection. "
In
the end, Jesus makes a promise that is a guarantee of victory: "By your
perseverance you will secure your lives" ( v.19 ) . How much hope in these
words! They
are a reminder of the hope and patience, to be able to wait for the fruits of
salvation certain, confident in the profound sense of life and of history: the
trials and difficulties are part of a bigger picture , and the Lord , the Lord
of history, leads all to its
fulfillment . Despite
the turmoil and disasters that affect the world, God's plan of goodness and mercy will be fulfilled !
And this is our hope. Travelling
this road, the road of God, it will be accomplished. This
message makes us reflect on our present and gives us the strength to face it
with courage and hope , in the company of Mary, who always walks with us.
Immediately
after the Marian prayer, the Pope pronounced his usual Sunday greetings:
"I greet all of you , families , associations and groups , who have come
from Rome , Italy , from many parts of the world : Spain, France, Finland, the
Netherlands. In
particular , I greet the pilgrims from Vercelli, Salerno, Lizzanello ; Lucaniadi
Motoclub, the young people from Monte Cassino and Caserta. The Eritrean
community in Rome who are celebrating the feast of St. Michael: sI send you all
my heartfelt greeting. Today is also the 'day of road deaths ' .I assure you of
my prayers and encourage you to persevere in the prevention, because prudence
and respect for the rules of the road are the first form of protection for oneself
and others. "
Before
bidding everyone farewell , the Pope recalled the end of the Year of Faith and
announced an unusual initiative: "I would now recommend to all of you here
in the square a medicine : some people think that the Pope is trying to be a
pharmacist ... It is a special
medicine to realize the fruits of the Year of Faith, which is drawing to a
close. Its a medicine of 59 beaded grains : it is a spiritual medicine called
Misericordina . It is kept in a box , which some volunteers will distribute as
you leave the square. Take
it : it is a Rosary , with which you can pray the 'chaplet of Divine Mercy ' ,
pearl of our soul and spiritual help to spread love , forgiveness and
brotherhood everywhere. Do not forget to take it, because it does us good: the
heart, the soul, our whole life! I wish you all a good Sunday. Have a good
lunch and good-bye . "