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 were gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday appointment.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
Today's gospel, taken from Chapter 10 of Mark's gospel, is divided into three scenes, punctuated by three of Jesus' glances.
The first scene presents the encounter between the Master and a person who - according to the parallel passage in Saint Matthew's gospel - is identified as young. The meeting between Jesus and the young man. He runs toward Jesus, kneels and calls him good Master. Then he asks: What must I do to inherit eternal life?, in other words, to achieve happiness (Mk 10: 17). Eternal life is not just the after life, but the fullness of life, complete, without limits. What must we do to achieve this? Jesus' response sums up the commandments that refer to loving our neighbour. In this regard, the young man has nothing to be ashamed of; but evidently, the mere observance of the precepts is not enough to satisfy his desire for fulfillment. Jesus understands this desire that the young man carries in his heart; therefore, he responds with an intense gaze that is filled with tenderness and affection. The gospel says: he fixed his gaze on him and loved him (Mk 10:21).
He realized that he was a good man ... but Jesus also understood that there was a weakness within him, so he made a concrete proposition: give all your possessions to the poor and come, follow me ... but the young man's heart was torn between two masters: God and money, and he went away sad. This demonstrated that we cannot live our faith and still be attached to wealth. If so, in the end, the enthusiasm of youth fades into the misery of unfulfilled plans.
In the second scene, the gospel writer again focuses on the eyes of Jesus, and this time he concentrates on a pensive look, a warning: He looked around and said to his disciples: How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God (Mk 10:23). To the amazement of the disciples, who wonder: So, who can be saved? (Mk 10:26), Jesus responds with a look of encouragement - the third look - and says: salvation is impossible for men, but nothing is impossible for God (Mk 10:27). If we rely on the Lord, we can overcome every obstacle that prevents us from following the path of faith. Let us trust in the Lord. He gives us strength, He saves us, He accompanies us on our journey.
So, we have arrived at the third scene - one in which Jesus makes a solemn declaration: Truly I tell you: those who leave everything to follow me will have eternal life in the future and receive a hundredfold in this life (Mk 10:29-30). This hundredfold is made up of things that we had previously owned and have left behind, riches that we will discover to be infinitely multiplied. There is nothing that we can receive in exchange for the enjoyment of true goodness; instead, we can be freed from slavery to things and win the freedom of service out of love; we can renounce possessions and discover the joy of giving. That is what Jesus said: It is better to give than to receive (cf Acts 20:35).
The young man did not allow himself to be overcome by Jesus' loving look, so he was unable to change. Only those who can humbly and gratefully welcome the love of the Lord are able to change from being seduced by idols and blinded by our illusions. Money, pleasure and success can dazzle, but they ultimately disappoint: they promise life but ultimately procure death. The Lord asks us to detach ourselves from these false riches in order to enter into true life, the fullness of life, authentic life, enlightenment. I want to ask you, young people, boys and girls, who are here in the Square: Have you felt Jesus' glance, looking at you? What do you want to say to him? Would you prefer to leave the Square with the joy that Jesus gives or with the sadness that the world offers?
May the Virgin Mary help us to open our hearts to the love of Jesus, to the look of Jesus, the only one who can quench our thirst for happiness.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Pope continued:
Yesterday, we received the sad news of a terrible massacre that took place in Ankara (Turkey). There is much pain for the many victims who have died, sadness for all those who are wounded, sadness because the attackers struck against defenceless people who were demonstrating and calling for peace. As I pray for that beloved country, I ask the Lord to welcome the souls of all the dead and to comfort all those who are suffering, as well as their family members.
Let us pray for them in a moment of silence.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Next Tuesday, October 13 will be the International Day for the Reduction of Natural Disasters. We should recognize that, unfortunately, the effects of these calamities are often compounded by man's lack of care for the environment. I join with all those who with farsightedness are committed to caring for our common home, promoting a global and local culture aimed at reducing disasters and increasing our resilience to them, blending new knowledge with traditional wisdom, and with particular attention to those who are more vulnerable.
I affectionately greet all of you pilgrims, especially the families and parish groups who have come from various parts of Italy and from all corners of the world. In particular: the deacons and priests from the German-Hungarian College who were ordained yesterday, who I encourage to undertake their service with joy and trust; the new seminarians from the Venerable English College; and the Confraternity of Santa Vera Cruz from Calahorra.
I greet the faithful from the parish of the Sacred Heart and Saint Theresa Margherita Redi from Arezzo, who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their foundation; as well as those from Camaiore and Capua; the Gesù ama group who have completed a week of evangelization in the Trastevere neighbourhood; the boys and girls who have recently received Confirmation; and finally the Davide Ciavattini Association who assist children with serious blood ailments.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch; good bye!
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
Today's gospel, taken from Chapter 10 of Mark's gospel, is divided into three scenes, punctuated by three of Jesus' glances.
The first scene presents the encounter between the Master and a person who - according to the parallel passage in Saint Matthew's gospel - is identified as young. The meeting between Jesus and the young man. He runs toward Jesus, kneels and calls him good Master. Then he asks: What must I do to inherit eternal life?, in other words, to achieve happiness (Mk 10: 17). Eternal life is not just the after life, but the fullness of life, complete, without limits. What must we do to achieve this? Jesus' response sums up the commandments that refer to loving our neighbour. In this regard, the young man has nothing to be ashamed of; but evidently, the mere observance of the precepts is not enough to satisfy his desire for fulfillment. Jesus understands this desire that the young man carries in his heart; therefore, he responds with an intense gaze that is filled with tenderness and affection. The gospel says: he fixed his gaze on him and loved him (Mk 10:21).
He realized that he was a good man ... but Jesus also understood that there was a weakness within him, so he made a concrete proposition: give all your possessions to the poor and come, follow me ... but the young man's heart was torn between two masters: God and money, and he went away sad. This demonstrated that we cannot live our faith and still be attached to wealth. If so, in the end, the enthusiasm of youth fades into the misery of unfulfilled plans.
In the second scene, the gospel writer again focuses on the eyes of Jesus, and this time he concentrates on a pensive look, a warning: He looked around and said to his disciples: How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God (Mk 10:23). To the amazement of the disciples, who wonder: So, who can be saved? (Mk 10:26), Jesus responds with a look of encouragement - the third look - and says: salvation is impossible for men, but nothing is impossible for God (Mk 10:27). If we rely on the Lord, we can overcome every obstacle that prevents us from following the path of faith. Let us trust in the Lord. He gives us strength, He saves us, He accompanies us on our journey.
So, we have arrived at the third scene - one in which Jesus makes a solemn declaration: Truly I tell you: those who leave everything to follow me will have eternal life in the future and receive a hundredfold in this life (Mk 10:29-30). This hundredfold is made up of things that we had previously owned and have left behind, riches that we will discover to be infinitely multiplied. There is nothing that we can receive in exchange for the enjoyment of true goodness; instead, we can be freed from slavery to things and win the freedom of service out of love; we can renounce possessions and discover the joy of giving. That is what Jesus said: It is better to give than to receive (cf Acts 20:35).
The young man did not allow himself to be overcome by Jesus' loving look, so he was unable to change. Only those who can humbly and gratefully welcome the love of the Lord are able to change from being seduced by idols and blinded by our illusions. Money, pleasure and success can dazzle, but they ultimately disappoint: they promise life but ultimately procure death. The Lord asks us to detach ourselves from these false riches in order to enter into true life, the fullness of life, authentic life, enlightenment. I want to ask you, young people, boys and girls, who are here in the Square: Have you felt Jesus' glance, looking at you? What do you want to say to him? Would you prefer to leave the Square with the joy that Jesus gives or with the sadness that the world offers?
May the Virgin Mary help us to open our hearts to the love of Jesus, to the look of Jesus, the only one who can quench our thirst for happiness.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Pope continued:
Yesterday, we received the sad news of a terrible massacre that took place in Ankara (Turkey). There is much pain for the many victims who have died, sadness for all those who are wounded, sadness because the attackers struck against defenceless people who were demonstrating and calling for peace. As I pray for that beloved country, I ask the Lord to welcome the souls of all the dead and to comfort all those who are suffering, as well as their family members.
Let us pray for them in a moment of silence.
Dear brothers and sisters,
Next Tuesday, October 13 will be the International Day for the Reduction of Natural Disasters. We should recognize that, unfortunately, the effects of these calamities are often compounded by man's lack of care for the environment. I join with all those who with farsightedness are committed to caring for our common home, promoting a global and local culture aimed at reducing disasters and increasing our resilience to them, blending new knowledge with traditional wisdom, and with particular attention to those who are more vulnerable.
I affectionately greet all of you pilgrims, especially the families and parish groups who have come from various parts of Italy and from all corners of the world. In particular: the deacons and priests from the German-Hungarian College who were ordained yesterday, who I encourage to undertake their service with joy and trust; the new seminarians from the Venerable English College; and the Confraternity of Santa Vera Cruz from Calahorra.
I greet the faithful from the parish of the Sacred Heart and Saint Theresa Margherita Redi from Arezzo, who are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their foundation; as well as those from Camaiore and Capua; the Gesù ama group who have completed a week of evangelization in the Trastevere neighbourhood; the boys and girls who have recently received Confirmation; and finally the Davide Ciavattini Association who assist children with serious blood ailments.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch; good bye!
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