At noon today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who had gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday meeting.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Last Sunday the liturgy presented Jesus, tempted by Satan in the desert, but victorious over temptation. In the light of this gospel, we have discovered new awareness of our sinful condition, but also of the victory over evil which is offered to those who undertake the journey of conversion and, like Jesus, desire to do the will of the Father. On this second Sunday of Lent, the Church points out half of this path to conversion, namely participation in the glory of Christ, which shines on the face of his obedient Servant, obedient, dead and risen for us.
The gospel account tells the events of the Transfiguration, which takes place at the culmination of Jesus' public ministry. He is on the way to Jerusalem, where the prophesies of the Servant of God will be accomplished and where he will accomplish his redemptive sacrifice. The crowds, did not understand this: faced with a Messiah who was in contrast to their earthly expectations, they abandoned him. They had thought that the Messiah would free them from Roman domination, free their entire country, but they didn't like Jesus' explanations, so they left. Even the apostles didn't understand the words with which Jesus proclaimed the outcome of his mission in the glorious passion: they didn't understand! So Jesus decided to show Peter, James and John an anticipated glimpse of his glory, the glory he would have after the Resurrection, in order to confirm them in faith and to encourage them to follow the difficult road ahead, the way of the Cross. Therefore, on a high mountain, deep in prayer, he was transfigured before them: his face and his entire person radiated with brilliant light. The three disciples were frightened as a cloud overshadowed them and rang out from above - as the same sound had been heard at the Baptism in the Jordan - the voice of the Father: This is my Son, the beloved: listen to him! (Mark 9:7). Jesus is the Son who has become the servant, sent into the world to bring about through the cross, the work of salvation, to save all of us. His full cooperation with the will of the Father made his humanity transparent to the glory of God, who is love.
In this way, Jesus reveals himself as the perfect icon of the Father, the radiance of his glory. And the fulfillment of this revelation: alongside His transfigured body stands Moses and Elijah, who represent the Law and the Prophets, as if to say that everything begins and ends in Jesus, in his passion and in his glory.
The important thing for the disciples and for us is this: Listen to him! Listen to Jesus. He is our Saviour: follow him. Listening to Christ, in fact, includes understanding the logic behind his pascal mystery, walking the journey with Him in order to make our lives gifts of love for others, in humble obedience to the will of God, with the attitude of detachment from worldly things and with interior freedom. In other words, we must be prepared to lose our lives (cf Mark 8:35), to give of ourselves so that all men might be saved, and we will be together in eternal happiness. The way of Jesus always leads to happiness, don't forget that! The way of Jesus always leads to happiness. There will always be a cross, trials, but in the end this way will always lead to happiness. Jesus never deceives us, he promised us happiness and he gives us this happiness if we walk his way.
With Peter, James and John, let us also climb the mount of the Transfiguration today and pause in contemplation of the face of Jesus, so that we can listen for his message and translate it in our lives; then we too will be able to be transfigured by His love. It's true: love can transfigure everything. Love transfigures everything! Do you believe it? The Virgin Mary helps us along the way; let ask her to pray with us now with the words of the Angelus.
After the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Unfortunately, dramatic news continues to come from Syria and from Iraq, about the violence, kidnapping and harassment of Christians and other groups of people. I wish once again to assure all those who are experiencing these situations that they are not forgotten, but that we are close to them, that we are praying for them unceasingly, that an end may soon be found to the intolerable brutality of which they are victims. Together with the members of the Roman Curia I have offered this intention during the final Mass of the Spiritual Exercises, celebrated this past Friday. At the same time, I ask you all, according to your capabilities, to work toward alleviating the suffering of those who are being afflicted, often solely because of the faith they profess. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith in Syria and in Iraq ... Let us pray in silence ...
I wish also to remember Venezuela, where people are experiencing once again, renewed moments of great tension. I pray for the victims and, in particular, for the young boy who was killed a few days ago in San Cristobal. I urge all people to reject violence and to respect the dignity of every person and the sanctity of human life, and I encourage you all to journey together for the good of your country, making space for encounters and sincere constructive dialogue. I entrust that dear nation to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto.
I cordially greet you all - families, parish groups, associations - pilgrims from Rome, from Italy and from other countries.
I greet the faithful who have come from San Francisco (California) and the young people from the parishes on the island of Formentera.
I greet the groups from Fontaneto d'Agogna and Montello; the Firefighters from Tassullo and the young people from Zambana.
I cordially greet the seminarians from Pavia, together with their rector and spiritual father. They have just completed their retreat and today they will return to their diocese. Let us pray for them and for all seminarians, asking for the grace to become good priests.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Don't forget, please, to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
Prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Last Sunday the liturgy presented Jesus, tempted by Satan in the desert, but victorious over temptation. In the light of this gospel, we have discovered new awareness of our sinful condition, but also of the victory over evil which is offered to those who undertake the journey of conversion and, like Jesus, desire to do the will of the Father. On this second Sunday of Lent, the Church points out half of this path to conversion, namely participation in the glory of Christ, which shines on the face of his obedient Servant, obedient, dead and risen for us.
The gospel account tells the events of the Transfiguration, which takes place at the culmination of Jesus' public ministry. He is on the way to Jerusalem, where the prophesies of the Servant of God will be accomplished and where he will accomplish his redemptive sacrifice. The crowds, did not understand this: faced with a Messiah who was in contrast to their earthly expectations, they abandoned him. They had thought that the Messiah would free them from Roman domination, free their entire country, but they didn't like Jesus' explanations, so they left. Even the apostles didn't understand the words with which Jesus proclaimed the outcome of his mission in the glorious passion: they didn't understand! So Jesus decided to show Peter, James and John an anticipated glimpse of his glory, the glory he would have after the Resurrection, in order to confirm them in faith and to encourage them to follow the difficult road ahead, the way of the Cross. Therefore, on a high mountain, deep in prayer, he was transfigured before them: his face and his entire person radiated with brilliant light. The three disciples were frightened as a cloud overshadowed them and rang out from above - as the same sound had been heard at the Baptism in the Jordan - the voice of the Father: This is my Son, the beloved: listen to him! (Mark 9:7). Jesus is the Son who has become the servant, sent into the world to bring about through the cross, the work of salvation, to save all of us. His full cooperation with the will of the Father made his humanity transparent to the glory of God, who is love.
In this way, Jesus reveals himself as the perfect icon of the Father, the radiance of his glory. And the fulfillment of this revelation: alongside His transfigured body stands Moses and Elijah, who represent the Law and the Prophets, as if to say that everything begins and ends in Jesus, in his passion and in his glory.
The important thing for the disciples and for us is this: Listen to him! Listen to Jesus. He is our Saviour: follow him. Listening to Christ, in fact, includes understanding the logic behind his pascal mystery, walking the journey with Him in order to make our lives gifts of love for others, in humble obedience to the will of God, with the attitude of detachment from worldly things and with interior freedom. In other words, we must be prepared to lose our lives (cf Mark 8:35), to give of ourselves so that all men might be saved, and we will be together in eternal happiness. The way of Jesus always leads to happiness, don't forget that! The way of Jesus always leads to happiness. There will always be a cross, trials, but in the end this way will always lead to happiness. Jesus never deceives us, he promised us happiness and he gives us this happiness if we walk his way.
With Peter, James and John, let us also climb the mount of the Transfiguration today and pause in contemplation of the face of Jesus, so that we can listen for his message and translate it in our lives; then we too will be able to be transfigured by His love. It's true: love can transfigure everything. Love transfigures everything! Do you believe it? The Virgin Mary helps us along the way; let ask her to pray with us now with the words of the Angelus.
After the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Unfortunately, dramatic news continues to come from Syria and from Iraq, about the violence, kidnapping and harassment of Christians and other groups of people. I wish once again to assure all those who are experiencing these situations that they are not forgotten, but that we are close to them, that we are praying for them unceasingly, that an end may soon be found to the intolerable brutality of which they are victims. Together with the members of the Roman Curia I have offered this intention during the final Mass of the Spiritual Exercises, celebrated this past Friday. At the same time, I ask you all, according to your capabilities, to work toward alleviating the suffering of those who are being afflicted, often solely because of the faith they profess. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters who are suffering for their faith in Syria and in Iraq ... Let us pray in silence ...
I wish also to remember Venezuela, where people are experiencing once again, renewed moments of great tension. I pray for the victims and, in particular, for the young boy who was killed a few days ago in San Cristobal. I urge all people to reject violence and to respect the dignity of every person and the sanctity of human life, and I encourage you all to journey together for the good of your country, making space for encounters and sincere constructive dialogue. I entrust that dear nation to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Coromoto.
I cordially greet you all - families, parish groups, associations - pilgrims from Rome, from Italy and from other countries.
I greet the faithful who have come from San Francisco (California) and the young people from the parishes on the island of Formentera.
I greet the groups from Fontaneto d'Agogna and Montello; the Firefighters from Tassullo and the young people from Zambana.
I cordially greet the seminarians from Pavia, together with their rector and spiritual father. They have just completed their retreat and today they will return to their diocese. Let us pray for them and for all seminarians, asking for the grace to become good priests.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Don't forget, please, to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
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