Pope: Conversion and forgiveness of sins, the mission of bearing witness everywhere
On the Solemnity of Jesus’ Ascension to heaven, Francis stressed the importance of the mission entrusted to his disciples and the whole Church. We “should leave our churches every Sunday to go into homes, offices, schools, meeting places, hospitals, prisons, seniors’ centres, crowded immigrant gatherings, city suburbs [. . .]”.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis spoke about the solemnity of the Ascension before the Marian prayer the Regina Caeli.
In commenting today’s Gospel, the pontiff said that this observance makes us contemplate the "mystery of Jesus leaving our earthly space to enter into the fullness of God's glory, carrying our humanity with him."
Luke the Evangelist “shows us the disciples’ reaction to the Lord as 'he parted from them and was taken up to heaven' (Lk 24:51). There was no pain in them nor sense of loss, but 'They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy’ (Ibid, 24:52). This is the return of someone who no longer fears the city that had rejected the Master, who had seen Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial, the dispersion of the disciples and the violence of an authority that felt threatened. "
“Since that day,” the pontiff went on to say, "it was possible for the Apostles and for every disciple of Christ to live in Jerusalem and in all the cities of the world, even the most troubled by injustice and violence, because the same sky lies over every city and every resident can look up with hope. [In] Jesus, God is a real man: with his human body, he is in heaven. This is our hope, [and] our anchor. We are firm in this hope, if we look up at the sky."
“This God who revealed himself so close to take the face of a man, Jesus of Nazareth, lives” in this heaven. “He remains forever the God-with-us. Let us remember this, Emmanuel, God with us – who does not abandon us! We can look up to see our future before us. The Ascension of Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One, holds the promise of our participation in the fullness of life with God."
“Before parting from his friends,” said the pope, "Jesus, speaking about his death and resurrection, told them, ‘You are witnesses of these things’ (Ibid, 24:48). The disciples, the Apostles are witnesses of Christ’s death and resurrection. On that day, even of the Ascension. In fact, after they saw their Lord ascend into heaven, the disciples went back to town as witnesses who can joyfully announce to all the new life that comes from the Risen Christ, in whose name repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations’ (Ibid, 24:47).”
“This,” Francis noted, "is the witness – made not only with words but also with everyday life – the witness that should leave our churches every Sunday to go into homes, offices, schools, meeting places, hospitals, prisons, seniors’ centres, crowded immigrant gatherings, city suburbs during the week [. . .] We bear this witness, every week. Christ is with us. Jesus ascended to heaven, he is with us. Christ is alive. "
“Jesus assured us that, in this announcement and witness, we ‘are clothed with power from on high’ (Ibid, 24:49), i.e. with the power of the Holy Spirit. Here lies the secret of this mission: the presence among us of the Risen Lord, who continues to open our minds and our hearts with the gift of the Spirit to proclaim his love and mercy even in the most resistant milieus of our cities. The Holy Spirit is the real architect of the manifold witness that the Church and every baptised person bears to the world. Therefore, we can never neglect gathering in prayer to praise God and invoke the gift of the Spirit."
After the Regina Caeli, Francis mentioned the 50th World Communication Day, which falls today. "Vatican Two was behind it. In fact, the Council Fathers, reflecting on the Church in the contemporary world, understood the crucial importance of communications, which ‘can build bridges between individuals and within families, social groups and peoples. This is possible both in the material world and the digital world’ (Message 2016).”
“To all those who work in communications, I send my cordial greetings, and express hope that our way of communicating in the Church will always have a clear evangelical style, a style that combines truth and mercy."
After greeting the various groups of pilgrims, the Holy Father turned his thoughts to mothers. "Today many countries celebrate Mother's Day. Let us remember with gratitude and affection every mother, those who are now in the square, our mothers, those who are still with us, and those who have gone to heaven. Let us entrust them to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Let us say the Hail Mary!” at that point, people in the square recited the prayer along with the pope.
“I wish you all a good Sunday. Please do not forget to pray for me. Have a nice lunch and goodbye!"
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