Pope: Lent, a time of conversion to be able to "react to the reality of evil that always challenges us "
Vatican City ( AsiaNews) - Living with a greater awareness of the redemptive work of Christ and with a greater commitment to our baptism are the two "commitments" that Pope Francis is asking us to "live" this Lent, which begins today, a "time of conversion of individuals and communities" to be able to "react to the reality of evil that always challenges us" so we will not just "passively accept" violence, injustice, "a society that claims it make do without God".
The beginning of the Lenten
journey today gave the Pope occasion to speak to the 50 thousand people present
in St Peter's Square for the general audience about the "desire to draw
closer to God, and this is the conversion" that this "special time"
can and should arouse in us" to help us shake off tired habits and lazy torpor
of evil that deceives us".
His
first "invitation", was to have a greater "awareness of the
wonders that the Lord has done for our salvation, which gives our minds and our
hearts an attitude of gratitude to God for what He has gifted us, for all that
He accomplishes in favor of
His people and of all humanity. Our conversion starts here: it is our grateful
response to the wonderful mystery of God's love when we see this love that God
has for us, we feel the urge to get closer to Him, and this is conversion".
"Living our Baptism in full - this is the second invitation - it means never becoming accustomed to the degradation and misery we encounter walking the streets of our cities and our countries. There is a risk of our passively accepting certain behaviors and no longer being shocked when faced with the sad realities that surround us. We become accustomed to violence, as if it were a foregone conclusion in daily news, we get used to seeing brothers and sisters who sleep on the streets, who do not have a roof for shelter. We get used to refugees seeking freedom and dignity, who are not welcomed as they should be. We get used to living in a society that claims it can make do without God, in which parents no longer teach their children to pray or to make the sign of the cross. I ask you, do your children know how to make the sign of the Cross? Think about it "," have you taught them to make it, think and answer in your heart. Do they know how to pray the Our Father? Do they know how to pray to the Virgin Mary, the Hail Mary? Think and answer in your heart. This addictive and non-Christians behavior of whatever pleases, drugs our hearts".
"Lent comes
to us as a providential time to change course, to recover the ability to react
to the reality of evil that always challenges us. Lent should be seen as a time
of conversion, of personal and community renewal through drawing closer to God and
trusting adherence to the Gospel . This also allows us to look with new eyes at
our brothers and their needs. This is why Lent is a favorable time to convert
to the love of God and neighbor, a love that knows how foster an attitude of
generosity and mercy of the Lord , who " became poor to enrich us with His
poverty." Meditating on the central mysteries of the faith , the Passion ,
the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ , we will realize that the
immeasurable gift of redemption is freely given to us by God".
"Thanksgiving
to God for the mystery of His crucified love; true faith; conversion and the opening
of the heart towards our brethren, these are the essential elements for living
Lent. In this way, we want to trustingly invoke the special protection
and help of the Virgin Mary: She is the first believer in Christ, to join us in
the days of intense prayer and penance, so we may celebrate, purified and
renewed in the spirit, the great mystery of the Passover of her Son".
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17/04/2024 16:34
