To enter the Kingdom of God we must "go through dark times, difficult times." This "is not an sadomasochistic attitude ", but "the Christian struggle" against the prince of this world. The peace of Jesus is not "a simple quiet", but a peace that "enters within you, a peace that gives you strength."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - In the face of life’s tribulations, the Christian must "trust" in God, who never disappoints, but who instead gives hope and peace, said Pope Francis during his homily at Mass celebrated this morning in Casa Santa Marta, inspired by the passage from the Acts of the Apostles in which St. Paul is persecuted, but despite a thousand tribulations remains firm in the faith and encourages his brothers and sisters to hope in the Lord .

A Christian, he pointed out, does not have a "sadomasochistic attitude" when faced with difficulties, but relies on the Lord with confidence and hope. Francis emphasized three points: tribulations, trusting in the Lord, peace.

The first point is that to enter the Kingdom of God we must "go through dark times, difficult times." This "is not an sadomasochistic attitude ", rather it is "the Christian struggle" against the prince of this world who tries to tear us away "from the word of Jesus, from faith, from hope". "Enduring trials and tribulations" noted the Pope, is sued often by the apostle Paul". 'To endure': is to have patience, to carry on one’s shoulders, to carry the weight of tribulation. And even Christian life has moments like that. But Jesus tells us: 'Have courage at that time. I won, you too will be victorious'. This first word enlightens us to endure the most difficult moments of life, those moments that make us suffer. "

The second word is "trust". "A Christian - said the Pope - can endure tribulations and even persecution by entrusting himself unto the Lord". He alone "is able to give us strength, give us perseverance in faith, to give us hope." "To entrust something to the Lord, to entrust this difficult time to the Lord, to entrust myself to the Lord, to entrust our faithful, priests, bishops to the Lord, to entrust our families, our friends to the Lord and say to the Lord: 'Take care of these, they are Yours'. It is a prayer that we do not always say, the prayer of entrustment:' Lord I entrust this to You, You bring it forward ', it is a beautiful Christian prayer. It is the attitude of trusting in the power of the Lord, even in the tenderness of God who is Father. "

When a person makes "this prayer" from the heart, then he feels it is entrusted to the Lord, he is safe: "He never disappoints." The affliction causes us to suffer, but "trust in the Lord gives you hope and here comes the third word: peace." Jesus says as he “takes his leave" of  his disciples: "I leave you peace, my peace I give you." But "not a peace,[that is] a simple tranquility", rather a peace that "enters within you, a peace that gives you strength, which reinforces what we asked the Lord for today: our faith and our hope."

"Three words: tribulations, trust and peace. In life we ​​have to travel the streets of tribulation this is the law of life. But in those moments we can rely on the Lord and He answers us with peace. This Lord who is Father loves us so much and never disappoints. Now we continue the Eucharistic celebration with the Lord, asking that He strengthens our faith and our hope, asking Him to give us the confidence to win over our tribulations because He won over world, and to gift us all his peace".

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