Pope: The door of God's mercy is always wide open. For everyone!
The goal, says Pope Francis before the Angelus prayer, "is Jesus himself. He leads us into fellowship with the Father, where we find love, understanding and protection. But why is this door is narrow? It is a narrow door not because it is oppressive, but because it asks us to restrict and limit our pride and our fear, to open ourselves with a humble and trusting heart to Him, recognizing ourselves as sinners, in need of his forgiveness. " An appeal for peace "in dear Turkey ".
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The door of God's mercy "is always wide open for everyone! God has no favorites, but always welcomes everyone, without distinction", exclaimed Pope Francis this morning before reciting the midday Angelus prayer. The theme of salvation through mercy is introduced by today's page of the Gospel, in which Christ invites all to "strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter, but they will not succeed."
The Pope explained that Jesus uses the door "to explain to his listeners that it is not a question of numbers, of how many you save, but it is important that everyone knows the path that leads to salvation”. Jesus himself "is the door; He leads us into fellowship with the Father, where we find love, understanding and protection. But why is this door narrow? It is a narrow door not because it is oppressive, but because it asks us to restrict and limit our pride and our fear, to open ourselves with humble and trusting heart to Him, recognizing ourselves as sinners, in need of his forgiveness".
The door of God's mercy, in short, "is always wide open for everyone! God has no favorites, but always welcomes everyone, without distinction. A door that is narrow to narrow our pride and our fear, wide open because God welcomes us without distinction. And the salvation that He gives us is an unceasing flow of mercy which breaks down every barrier and opens up surprising perspectives of light and peace".
Jesus, says Francis, "speaks to us today, once again, making a pressing invitation to come to him, to cross the threshold of full life, to be reconciled and happy. He is waiting for each of us, whatever sin we have committed, to embrace us, to offer us his forgiveness. He alone can transform our hearts, He alone can give full meaning to our existence, giving us real joy. Upon entering the door of Jesus, the door of faith and of the Gospel, we can levae behind our worldly attitudes, bad habits, selfishness and closures. When there is contact with the love and mercy of God, there is a real change. And our life is illuminated by the light of the Holy Spirit: an inextinguishable light! ".
The Pope added off the cuff: "I would like to make a suggestion: Let us all be silent for a moment to tthing about the things that I have inside of me and prevent me from crossing the door. My pride, my vainglory, my sins. And then let us think of the other door, the one open by the mercy of God who is waiting for us on the other side, to give us forgiveness. Let us be silent for a moment, and think about these things".
The Lord offers us many opportunities to save and enter through the door of salvation: "This door is an opportunity that must not be wasted: we must not make academic discourse on salvation, like the man who turned to Jesus, but we must seize the chances of salvation. Because at a certain moment "the landlord got up and locked the door" (v.25), as mentioned in the Gospel. But if God is good and loves us, why does He close the door? Because our life is not a video game or a soap opera; our life is serious and the goal to achieve is important: Eternal salvation. "
We ask the Virgin Mary Gate of Heaven, concluded the Pope, "to help us seize the opportunities that the Lord gives us to cross the threshold of the faith and thus to enter into a wide road: It is the path of salvation capable of welcoming all who allow themselves to be touched by love. It is love which saves, the love here on earth is a source of happiness to those who, in meekness, patience and justice, forget themselves and give themselves to others, especially the weakest".
After the Marian prayer, Francis says: "I have heard the sad news of the bloody attack yesterday that struck dear Turkey. We pray for the victims, dead and wounded, and ask for the gift of peace for all" [recites Hail Mary].
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10/08/2016 11:50
