At the conclusion of the eucharistic celebration inside the Vatican Basilica for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, at noon local time, 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 gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, happy feast day!
Today, on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, the gospel (cf Mt 2:1-12) presents us with three attitudes with which Christ Jesus' coming and his manifestation to the entire world were welcomed by others. The first attitude: research, careful research; the second: indifference; and the third: fear.
Careful research: The Magi do not hesitate to set out in search of the Messiah. Having reached Jerusalem, they asked: Where is the one who has been born, the king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to adore him (Mt 2:2). They had travelled far and now with great care, they sought to determine where the newborn King was to be found. In Jerusalem, they turned to King Herod who asked the chief priests and scribes to inquire about the place where the Messiah was to be born.
Against this careful research done by the Magi, the second attitude is opposed: the indifference of the high priests and the scribes. They were very comfortable. They knew the scriptures and were able to give the correct answers as to the place where the birth had taken place: In Bethlehem of Judea, as it was written by the prophet (Mt 2:5); they knew but they could not be bothered to go themselves in search of the Messiah. And Bethlehem is only a few kilometres away, but they did not move.
Even more negative is the third attitude, Herod's outlook: fear. He was afraid that the Child would challenge his power. He called the Magi and learned from them the time when the star had appeared, then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying to them: Go and learn ... about the child and, when you have found him, send word so that I too can come and adore him (Mt 2:7-8). In truth, Herod did not want to go and adore Jesus; Herod wanted to know where he could find the child not so that he could adore him, but so that he could eliminate him, because he considered him to be his rival. Look carefully: fear always leads to hypocrisy. Hypocrites act that way because in their hearts, they are afraid.
These are the three attitudes that we find in the gospel: the careful research of the Magi; the indifference of the high priests, the scribes and those who knew theology; and Herod's fear. And we too can think and choose: which of the three will we take on? Do I want to be cared for by Jesus? But Jesus doesn't say anything to me ... I'm ok ... Or am I afraid of Jesus, and in my heart do I want to something else?
Selfishness can lead us to think of the coming of Jesus in our own lives as a threat. If that's the case, we seek to suppress or to silence the message of Jesus. When we follow human ambitions, the most comfortable perspectives, inclinations toward evil, Jesus can be perceived as an obstacle.
On the other hand, the temptation of indifference is always present. Knowing that Jesus is the Saviour - our saviour, all of us -, we prefer to live he were not present: instead of behaving according to our Christian faith, we follow the principles of worldliness, which lead us to give in to inclinations to arrogance, seeking to quench our own thirst for power and riches.
Instead, we are called to follow the example of the Magi: to be careful in our research, ready to go out to meet Jesus in our lives. We seek him in order to adore him, to understand that He is our Lord, the One who points out the right path for us to follow. If we have this attitude, Jesus will truly save us, and we can live a good life, we can grow in our faith, in hope, in charity toward God and toward our brothers and sisters.
Let us call upon the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the star of the human pilgrimage through time. With her maternal help, may every man and woman reach Jesus, the Light of truth, and may the world progress on the path of justice and peace.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Some Oriental Churches as well as some Catholic and Orthodox Churches are celebrating the Birth of the Lord. To all of them, I send my most cordial greetings: may this joyous celebration be a source of new spiritual vigour and of communion between us Christians, who recognize our Saviour and Lord in this child. And I want to especially express my closeness to Coptic Orthodox Christians. I cordially greet my brother Tawadros II on this joyous occasion of the consecration of the new Cathedral in Cairo.
The Epiphany is also Youth Missionary Day, which this year invites all young missionaries to look to Jesus, so that He can become the precious guide of their commitment in prayer, fraternity and sharing with those of their peers who are in need.
I send my cordial greetings to all of you, individual pilgrims, families, parish groups and associations, from Italy and from other countries. In particular, I greet the faithful from Lavello ad those from San Martino in Rio, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition, the recently confirmed young people from Bonate Sotto and from Romano in Lombardia.
A special greeting to the historical-folklore parade which promotes the values of the Epiphany and this year is dedicated to the territory of Monti Prenestini. I also want to remember the parades of the Magi which is taking place in many cities throughout Poland, involving many families and associations.
I wish you all a good feast day. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, happy feast day!
Today, on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, the gospel (cf Mt 2:1-12) presents us with three attitudes with which Christ Jesus' coming and his manifestation to the entire world were welcomed by others. The first attitude: research, careful research; the second: indifference; and the third: fear.
Careful research: The Magi do not hesitate to set out in search of the Messiah. Having reached Jerusalem, they asked: Where is the one who has been born, the king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to adore him (Mt 2:2). They had travelled far and now with great care, they sought to determine where the newborn King was to be found. In Jerusalem, they turned to King Herod who asked the chief priests and scribes to inquire about the place where the Messiah was to be born.
Against this careful research done by the Magi, the second attitude is opposed: the indifference of the high priests and the scribes. They were very comfortable. They knew the scriptures and were able to give the correct answers as to the place where the birth had taken place: In Bethlehem of Judea, as it was written by the prophet (Mt 2:5); they knew but they could not be bothered to go themselves in search of the Messiah. And Bethlehem is only a few kilometres away, but they did not move.
Even more negative is the third attitude, Herod's outlook: fear. He was afraid that the Child would challenge his power. He called the Magi and learned from them the time when the star had appeared, then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying to them: Go and learn ... about the child and, when you have found him, send word so that I too can come and adore him (Mt 2:7-8). In truth, Herod did not want to go and adore Jesus; Herod wanted to know where he could find the child not so that he could adore him, but so that he could eliminate him, because he considered him to be his rival. Look carefully: fear always leads to hypocrisy. Hypocrites act that way because in their hearts, they are afraid.
These are the three attitudes that we find in the gospel: the careful research of the Magi; the indifference of the high priests, the scribes and those who knew theology; and Herod's fear. And we too can think and choose: which of the three will we take on? Do I want to be cared for by Jesus? But Jesus doesn't say anything to me ... I'm ok ... Or am I afraid of Jesus, and in my heart do I want to something else?
Selfishness can lead us to think of the coming of Jesus in our own lives as a threat. If that's the case, we seek to suppress or to silence the message of Jesus. When we follow human ambitions, the most comfortable perspectives, inclinations toward evil, Jesus can be perceived as an obstacle.
On the other hand, the temptation of indifference is always present. Knowing that Jesus is the Saviour - our saviour, all of us -, we prefer to live he were not present: instead of behaving according to our Christian faith, we follow the principles of worldliness, which lead us to give in to inclinations to arrogance, seeking to quench our own thirst for power and riches.
Instead, we are called to follow the example of the Magi: to be careful in our research, ready to go out to meet Jesus in our lives. We seek him in order to adore him, to understand that He is our Lord, the One who points out the right path for us to follow. If we have this attitude, Jesus will truly save us, and we can live a good life, we can grow in our faith, in hope, in charity toward God and toward our brothers and sisters.
Let us call upon the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the star of the human pilgrimage through time. With her maternal help, may every man and woman reach Jesus, the Light of truth, and may the world progress on the path of justice and peace.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Some Oriental Churches as well as some Catholic and Orthodox Churches are celebrating the Birth of the Lord. To all of them, I send my most cordial greetings: may this joyous celebration be a source of new spiritual vigour and of communion between us Christians, who recognize our Saviour and Lord in this child. And I want to especially express my closeness to Coptic Orthodox Christians. I cordially greet my brother Tawadros II on this joyous occasion of the consecration of the new Cathedral in Cairo.
The Epiphany is also Youth Missionary Day, which this year invites all young missionaries to look to Jesus, so that He can become the precious guide of their commitment in prayer, fraternity and sharing with those of their peers who are in need.
I send my cordial greetings to all of you, individual pilgrims, families, parish groups and associations, from Italy and from other countries. In particular, I greet the faithful from Lavello ad those from San Martino in Rio, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition, the recently confirmed young people from Bonate Sotto and from Romano in Lombardia.
A special greeting to the historical-folklore parade which promotes the values of the Epiphany and this year is dedicated to the territory of Monti Prenestini. I also want to remember the parades of the Magi which is taking place in many cities throughout Poland, involving many families and associations.
I wish you all a good feast day. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
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