At noon today in Rome (6:00am EDT), 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, good morning!
Today's gospel (cf Mk 6:30-34) informs us that the apostles, after their first mission, returned to Jesus and told him everything that they had done and all that they had taught (Mk 6:30). After the experience of the mission, which was certainly energizing but also tiring, they needed rest, and Jesus, who always understands us, made sure to find them a bit of relief, saying to them: Come away, by yourselves, to a deserted place, and rest awhile (Mk 6:31). But this time, Jesus' plan did not come to pass, because the crowd, who figured out the place where Jesus was heading in the boat together with his disciples, made their way there before the boat arrived.
The same thing can happen today. Sometimes, we are not successful in achieving our plans, because something unplanned and urgent happens and disrupts our plans and we must be flexible and available to the needs of others.
In such circumstances, we are called to do what Jesus did: Making his way out of the boat, he saw a great crowd and he had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things (Mk 6:34). In this short phrase, the evangelist offers us a particularly intense flash, a photograph taken from the eyes of the divine Master and giving us a glimpse into his teaching. Let us look at the three verbs contained in this photograph: he saw, he had compassion, he taught. We can say that these are pastoral actions. Jesus' gaze is not neutral, nor - and this would be worse - is it cold or distancing, because Jesus always looks at us with the eyes of his heart, and his heart is always tender and full of compassion, a heart that knows how to welcome even the most hidden needs of his people. In addition, his compassion does not only indicate an emotional reaction to a situation of his people's despair, but it is much more: an attitude and a predisposition that God has toward mankind and his lived experience. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's care and tenderness for his people.
Since Jesus was moved to see all those people in need of guidance and help, we might expect that he would work some miracle. Instead, he began to teach them many things. This is the first bread that the Master offers to the crowd of people who are hungry and lost: the bread of his Word. We all need the word of truth, which guides and illuminates our path. Without the truth, which is Christ himself, it is not possible for us to find the right orientation for our lives. When we have distanced ourselves from Jesus and from his love, we lose ourselves and our experience transforms into delusions and dissatisfaction. With Jesus by our sides, we can procede with assurance, we can survive any test, we can progress in love toward God and toward others. Jesus made himself a gift for others, and in so doing, he made himself a model of love and service for each one of us.
Blessed Mary can help us to take on the problems, sufferings and difficulties that others are dealing with, and to maintain an attitude of sharing and of service.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
In these most recent weeks, we have received dramatic reports of shipwrecks involving boats that were filled with migrants in the waters of the Mediterranean. I express my sadness at such tragedy and I assure them of my remembrance of those who have died and of their families in my prayers. I address a heartfelt appeal for the international community to act decisively and promptly in order to avoid any repetition of such tragedies, and to guarantee safety and respect for the rights and the dignity of all people.
I extend my greetings to all of you, Romans and pilgrims. In particular, I greet the faithful from the Diocese of Rio do Sul (Brazil), the young people from the Diocese of Seville (Spain) and the young people from the Diocese of Pelplin (Poland), who have come from Assisi where they have been participating in a prayer rally in preparation for the upcoming Synod of Bishops.
I greet the parish groups and associations; and the groups of young people from Piazzola sul Brenta, in the Diocese of Vicenza.
I wish you all a good Sunday and, 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, good morning!
Today's gospel (cf Mk 6:30-34) informs us that the apostles, after their first mission, returned to Jesus and told him everything that they had done and all that they had taught (Mk 6:30). After the experience of the mission, which was certainly energizing but also tiring, they needed rest, and Jesus, who always understands us, made sure to find them a bit of relief, saying to them: Come away, by yourselves, to a deserted place, and rest awhile (Mk 6:31). But this time, Jesus' plan did not come to pass, because the crowd, who figured out the place where Jesus was heading in the boat together with his disciples, made their way there before the boat arrived.
The same thing can happen today. Sometimes, we are not successful in achieving our plans, because something unplanned and urgent happens and disrupts our plans and we must be flexible and available to the needs of others.
In such circumstances, we are called to do what Jesus did: Making his way out of the boat, he saw a great crowd and he had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things (Mk 6:34). In this short phrase, the evangelist offers us a particularly intense flash, a photograph taken from the eyes of the divine Master and giving us a glimpse into his teaching. Let us look at the three verbs contained in this photograph: he saw, he had compassion, he taught. We can say that these are pastoral actions. Jesus' gaze is not neutral, nor - and this would be worse - is it cold or distancing, because Jesus always looks at us with the eyes of his heart, and his heart is always tender and full of compassion, a heart that knows how to welcome even the most hidden needs of his people. In addition, his compassion does not only indicate an emotional reaction to a situation of his people's despair, but it is much more: an attitude and a predisposition that God has toward mankind and his lived experience. Jesus is the fulfillment of God's care and tenderness for his people.
Since Jesus was moved to see all those people in need of guidance and help, we might expect that he would work some miracle. Instead, he began to teach them many things. This is the first bread that the Master offers to the crowd of people who are hungry and lost: the bread of his Word. We all need the word of truth, which guides and illuminates our path. Without the truth, which is Christ himself, it is not possible for us to find the right orientation for our lives. When we have distanced ourselves from Jesus and from his love, we lose ourselves and our experience transforms into delusions and dissatisfaction. With Jesus by our sides, we can procede with assurance, we can survive any test, we can progress in love toward God and toward others. Jesus made himself a gift for others, and in so doing, he made himself a model of love and service for each one of us.
Blessed Mary can help us to take on the problems, sufferings and difficulties that others are dealing with, and to maintain an attitude of sharing and of service.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
In these most recent weeks, we have received dramatic reports of shipwrecks involving boats that were filled with migrants in the waters of the Mediterranean. I express my sadness at such tragedy and I assure them of my remembrance of those who have died and of their families in my prayers. I address a heartfelt appeal for the international community to act decisively and promptly in order to avoid any repetition of such tragedies, and to guarantee safety and respect for the rights and the dignity of all people.
I extend my greetings to all of you, Romans and pilgrims. In particular, I greet the faithful from the Diocese of Rio do Sul (Brazil), the young people from the Diocese of Seville (Spain) and the young people from the Diocese of Pelplin (Poland), who have come from Assisi where they have been participating in a prayer rally in preparation for the upcoming Synod of Bishops.
I greet the parish groups and associations; and the groups of young people from Piazzola sul Brenta, in the Diocese of Vicenza.
I wish you all a good Sunday and, please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
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