Pope: The world needs Christ, his salvation, his merciful love more than ever
Speaking at the Angelus Pope Francis reiterated the question in today's Gospel, “Who is Jesus for the people of our time? Who is Jesus for each of us?” Sadly, “Many people feel an emptiness around and in themselves; others live in restlessness and uncertainty because of insecurity and conflict”. He recited the Ave Maria for the Pan-Orthodox Synod in Crete. Tomorrow is the UN’s World Refugee Day. Speaking about refugees, he said we must “meet them, welcome them, listen to them, and become peacemakers in accordance with God’s will."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – "The world needs Christ, his salvation, his merciful love more than ever. Many people feel an emptiness around and in themselves; others live in restlessness and uncertainty because of insecurity and conflict,” Pope Francis told pilgrims in St Peter's Square before today's Angelus.
"All of us need adequate answers to our concrete questions,” the pope noted. “In Christ, only in Him, can one find true peace and the fulfilment of every human aspiration. Jesus knows the human heart like no other does. For this reason, he can heal it, giving it life and consolation."
The pope commented today's Gospel (12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Luke 9:18-24), when Jesus turned to his disciples before asking first what people thought of him and then what the Apostles themselves thought of him, leading Peter to say “You are Christ”.
“Jesus realised that the Twelve, Peter in particular, had received the gift of faith from the Father. For this reason, he began to talk to them openly about what awaited him in Jerusalem. ‘The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised” (Luke, 19:22).
“Those same questions are addressed to all of us today. Who is Jesus for the people of our time? Who is Jesus for each of us? For me, and you, and you? We are called to make Peter's answer our answer, joyfully professing that Jesus is the Son of God, the eternal Word of the Father, who became man to redeem mankind, pouring out upon it the abundance of divine mercy."
"After ending his talk with the Apostles, Jesus addressed everyone, saying ‘If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke, 19:23). This is not an ornamental or ideological cross, but it is the cross of one’s duty, of sacrifice for others with love, of availability and solidarity with the poor, of commitment to justice and peace. In taking on these attitudes, we always you lose something. We must never forget that ‘whoever loses his life for my sake [Christ’s] will save it’ (Luke, 19:24). It is a loss that leads to gain.
“Let us remember all of our brothers and sisters who offer their time, their effort and even their lives to Jesus in order not deny their faith. Through His Holy Spirit, Jesus gives us the strength to go on the journey of faith and witness. In this journey, Our Lady is always close to us and ahead of us. Let ourselves let her take us by the hand when we go through dark and difficult moments. "
After the Marian prayer, the pope called on the faithful to pray for the Pan-Orthodox Synod, currently underway in Crete, where, for various reasons, some Churches are not in attendance.
"Today,” Francis said, “Solemnity of Pentecost according to the Julian calendar followed by the Orthodox Church, the Pan-Orthodox council began in Crete with the Divine Liturgy celebration. Let us join the prayer of our Orthodox brothers, invoking the Holy Spirit to assist with his gifts patriarchs, archbishops and bishops assembled in council." He then recited the Ave Maria, followed by tens of thousands of those present.
Right afterwards, the Holy Father said that tomorrow is World Refugee Day. Instituted by the UN, its theme this year is We Stand #WithRefugees 2016 - Please Stand with Us.
"Refugees,” the pontiff said, “are people like everyone else, but who have had their home, work, relatives, friends taken away from war. Their stories and their faces call on us to renew our commitment to build peace in justice. For this reason, we want to be with them, meet them, welcome them, listen to them, and become peacemakers in accordance with God’s will."
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06/04/2016 09:26
