Pope: Lent, a time of conversion as "Jesus waits" for "the poor and the least"
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - As he focused on the Church' exhortation for the period of Lent, Pope Francis stressed "conversion", changing "one's life," abandoning "sinful behaviour," and not being "distracted by things that do not matter and cannot last long." The aim is to become a "new man" and remain in "the love of Jesus," which "lasts forever," and "never end[s] because it is the very life of God." [. . .] The one who experiences the mercy of God is driven to be the creator of mercy among the poor and the least. In these 'littlest brothers and sisters' Jesus waits for us".
In celebrating the Sacrament of the Reconciliation this afternoon in St Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father also opened the '24 Hours for the Lord,' a time of penance that is celebrated in many dioceses around the world. Before hearing the confession of some of the faithful, the pope himself was confessed by one of 61 penitentiaries present in the basilica.
"In the period of Lent," Francis said, "the Church, in the name of God, renews the call to conversion. It is the call to change one's life. Conversion is not a matter of a moment or a year, it is a commitment that lasts a lifetime. Who among us can be assumed not to be a sinner? No one. The Apostle John writes: 'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness' (1 John, 1:8-9).This is what happens in our celebration and throughout this day of penance. The Word of God we have heard introduces us to two essential elements of the Christian life."
"The first" element is "put on the new man. The new man, 'created according to God' (Eph, 4:24), is born in Baptism, where one receives the very life of God, which makes us His sons and incorporates us into Christ and his Church. This new life allows one to look at reality with different eyes, without being distracted by things that do not matter and cannot last long. For this we are called to abandon sinful behaviour and fix our gaze on that, which is essential. 'Man is more precious for what he is than for what he has' (Gaudium et Spes, 35). Behold the difference between the life deformed by sin and the life illumined by grace. From the heart of the man renewed according to God come good behaviours: always to speak with truth and avoid any lie; to steal not, but rather to share what you have with others; especially with those in need; not to give in to anger, resentment and revenge, but to be gentle, magnanimous and ready to forgive; not to fall into backbiting that ruins people's good name, but to look more rather on each person's positive side. And this [means] putting on the new man with these attitudes."
"The second" is "Remain in my love. The love of Jesus Christ lasts forever, and will never end because it is the very life of God. This love conquers sin and gives strength to get up and start anew, because with pardon the heart is renewed and rejuvenated. Our Father never tires of loving and His eyes did not grow heavy in looking at the way home, to see if his Son who left and was lost will return. And this Father does not tire of loving even His other son, who, though he remains ever in the house with Him, nevertheless does not take part in His mercy, His compassion. God is not only the source of love, but in Jesus Christ calls us to imitate his own way of loving: 'As I have loved you, so you also should love one another (Jn, 13:34).' To the extent that Christians live this love, they become credible Disciples of Christ in the world. Love cannot stand to remain locked up in itself. By its very nature [Love] is open, it spreads and is fruitful, [it] always generates new love."
"Dear brothers and sisters, after this celebration, many of you will make yourselves missionaries to the experience of reconciliation with God. "24 hours for the Lord" is an initiative in which many dioceses all over the world are participating. To everyone you meet, you will communicate the joy of receiving the Father's forgiveness and regaining full friendship with Him. The one who experiences the mercy of God is driven to be the creator of mercy among the poor and the least. In these "littlest brothers and sisters," Jesus waits for us (Mt 25:40). Let us go to meet them! And we will celebrate Easter in the joy of God!
Francis also mentioned the confession this morning when he met with "future confessors" who are taking part in a course offered by the Apostolic Penitentiary.
"The heart of the priest," he said among other things, "is a heart that knows how to be moved, not by sentimentality or mere emotion, but" in order to touch "the 'tender mercy' (viscera misericordiae) of the Lord. [. . .] The forgiveness that the Sacrament confers is the new life sent by the Risen Lord by means of His Spirit" and "your task is to give it generously to others".
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