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 gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the usual Sunday appointment.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
In the fifteenth chapter of the gospel of Luke, we find the three parables of mercy: the one about the lost sheep (Lk 15:4-7); the one about the lost coin (Lk 15:8-10); and the great parable of the prodigal son, or better yet, of the merciful father (Lk 15:11-32). Today, it would be good if every one of us were to take the gospel, this fifteenth chapter of the gospel according to Like, and read the three parables. As a part of the lenten schedule, the gospel presents this third parable of the merciful father, which is the story of a father who has two sons.
The story helps us to understand a few things about this father: he is a man who is always ready to forgive and to hope against hope. This dictates above all his tolerance of the younger son's decision to leave home: he could have refused, knowing that he was still immature, a young boy; or he could have found a lawyer who could help him find a way not to have to give him his inheritance since his father was still living. Instead, he permitted him to leave, despite the possible risks. This is how our Father is with us: he leaves us free, even to make mistakes, because when he created us, he gave us the great gift of free will. It is up to us to make good use of this freedom. This gift of freedom that God has given us always amazes me!
The separation between father and son is only physical; the father always carries him in his heart; waiting faithfully for his return; checking the paths in hope of seeing him. And one day, he sees him appear in the distance (cf Lk 15:20). This means that every day, this father would climb onto the rooftop terrace to see whether his son was returning! Then, he is so overcome with emotion when he sees him that he runs out to meet him, he embraces him, he kisses him. What tenderness! And this son had gotten fat! But the father welcomed him anyway.
The father shows the same attitude toward the elder son, who has always remained at home, and now becomes angry and protests because he doesn't understand and doesn't share his father's happiness toward his brother who had made such a mistake. The father also goes out to meet his elder son and reminds him that they have always been together, they share everything in common (Lk 15:31), but he has to joyfully welcome his brother who has finally returned home. This makes me think of something: when someone feels sinful, we feel really small, or as I have heard someone say - on many occasions - Father, I feel like dirt!, this is the moment to go to the Father. In fact, when we feel justified - I have always done what is right ... even then, the Father comes in search of us, because this attitude of feeling justified is a bad attitude: it is evidence of pride! It comes from the devil. The Father waits for those who recognize themselves as sinners and goes in search of those who feel that they are justified. This is our Father!
We can also insert a third son into this parable. A third son? Where? He is hidden. He is he one who did not consider it a privilege to be like the Father, but emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave (Phil 2:6-7). This Servant-Son is Jesus! He is the extension of the arms and the heart of the Father: He welcomed the prodigal son and washed his dirty feet; He prepared the banquet for the feast of forgiveness. He, Jesus, teaches us to be merciful like the Father.
The figure of the father in the parable reveals the heart of God. He is the merciful Father who in Jesus continues to love us beyond all measure, always waiting for our conversion every time we make mistakes; he waits for our return when we wander far from him, thinking that we can do better; he is always ready to open his arms no matter what happens. Like the father in the gospel, God too continues to think about his children when we are lost, and he comes out to meet us with tenderness when we return to Him. He speaks to us with such goodness when we believe that we are justified. The errors that we commit, even if they are great, do not diminish the fidelity of his love. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, we can always begin again: He welcomes us, restores the dignity of being considered one of his children and says: Keep going! Be at peace! Get up, go on your way!.
In this period of Lent that still separates us from Easter, we are called to intensify our interior journey of conversion. Let us allow ourselves to encounter the loving gaze of our Father, and return to Him with all our hearts, rejecting every sinful compromise. May the Virgin Mary accompany us into the revitalizing embrace of Divine Mercy.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I express my closeness to the Missionaries of Charity at this time of great loss which they experienced two days ago with the assassination of four of their Religious in Aden (Yemen), where they were helping the elderly. I pray for them and for the other persons who were killed in the attack, and for their families. These are today's martyrs! Their story is not told in the newspapers, they do not make the news, but these have given their blood for the Church. These people are victims of the attack perpetrated by those who killed them, and also of indifference, the globalization of indifference, all those who do not pay attention ... May Mother Teresa accompany her sisters, martyred because of their charity, into paradise, and may she intercede for peace and holy respect for human life.
As a concrete sign of commitment to peace and to life, I want to mention and express admiration for the initiative of humanitarian corridors for refugees, which have recently been launched in Italy. This pilot project, which combines solidarity and security, allows you to help people who are fleeing from war and violence, like the hundred refugees who have already moved into Italy, among which are sick children, disabled persons, widows of war with their children and the elderly. I also welcome this initiative because it is ecumenical, supported by the Saint Egidio Community and the Federation of Italian Evangelical Churches, as well as the Waldensian and the Methodist Churches.
I greet you all, pilgrims who have come from Italy and from many other countries, especially the faithful from the Catholic Mission in Hagen (Germany), as well as those from Timisoara (Romania), Valencia (Spain) and from Denmark.
I greet the parish groups from Taranto, Avellino, Dobbiaco, Fane (Verona) and Rome; the young people from Milan, Almenno San Salvatore, Verdellino-Zingonia, Latiano and the youth from Vigonovo; the Don Carlo Costamagna school in Busto Arsizio and Immacolata from Soresina; the Saint Mary of the Angels and of Hope prayer groups; and the National Confederation of Ex-alumni from Catholic Schools.
I ask you to please remember me and my collaborators in your prayers as we will be doing Spiritual Exercises (on retreat), beginning tonight and until next Friday.
I wish you all a good Sunday. 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!
In the fifteenth chapter of the gospel of Luke, we find the three parables of mercy: the one about the lost sheep (Lk 15:4-7); the one about the lost coin (Lk 15:8-10); and the great parable of the prodigal son, or better yet, of the merciful father (Lk 15:11-32). Today, it would be good if every one of us were to take the gospel, this fifteenth chapter of the gospel according to Like, and read the three parables. As a part of the lenten schedule, the gospel presents this third parable of the merciful father, which is the story of a father who has two sons.
The story helps us to understand a few things about this father: he is a man who is always ready to forgive and to hope against hope. This dictates above all his tolerance of the younger son's decision to leave home: he could have refused, knowing that he was still immature, a young boy; or he could have found a lawyer who could help him find a way not to have to give him his inheritance since his father was still living. Instead, he permitted him to leave, despite the possible risks. This is how our Father is with us: he leaves us free, even to make mistakes, because when he created us, he gave us the great gift of free will. It is up to us to make good use of this freedom. This gift of freedom that God has given us always amazes me!
The separation between father and son is only physical; the father always carries him in his heart; waiting faithfully for his return; checking the paths in hope of seeing him. And one day, he sees him appear in the distance (cf Lk 15:20). This means that every day, this father would climb onto the rooftop terrace to see whether his son was returning! Then, he is so overcome with emotion when he sees him that he runs out to meet him, he embraces him, he kisses him. What tenderness! And this son had gotten fat! But the father welcomed him anyway.
The father shows the same attitude toward the elder son, who has always remained at home, and now becomes angry and protests because he doesn't understand and doesn't share his father's happiness toward his brother who had made such a mistake. The father also goes out to meet his elder son and reminds him that they have always been together, they share everything in common (Lk 15:31), but he has to joyfully welcome his brother who has finally returned home. This makes me think of something: when someone feels sinful, we feel really small, or as I have heard someone say - on many occasions - Father, I feel like dirt!, this is the moment to go to the Father. In fact, when we feel justified - I have always done what is right ... even then, the Father comes in search of us, because this attitude of feeling justified is a bad attitude: it is evidence of pride! It comes from the devil. The Father waits for those who recognize themselves as sinners and goes in search of those who feel that they are justified. This is our Father!
We can also insert a third son into this parable. A third son? Where? He is hidden. He is he one who did not consider it a privilege to be like the Father, but emptied himself, taking on the form of a slave (Phil 2:6-7). This Servant-Son is Jesus! He is the extension of the arms and the heart of the Father: He welcomed the prodigal son and washed his dirty feet; He prepared the banquet for the feast of forgiveness. He, Jesus, teaches us to be merciful like the Father.
The figure of the father in the parable reveals the heart of God. He is the merciful Father who in Jesus continues to love us beyond all measure, always waiting for our conversion every time we make mistakes; he waits for our return when we wander far from him, thinking that we can do better; he is always ready to open his arms no matter what happens. Like the father in the gospel, God too continues to think about his children when we are lost, and he comes out to meet us with tenderness when we return to Him. He speaks to us with such goodness when we believe that we are justified. The errors that we commit, even if they are great, do not diminish the fidelity of his love. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, we can always begin again: He welcomes us, restores the dignity of being considered one of his children and says: Keep going! Be at peace! Get up, go on your way!.
In this period of Lent that still separates us from Easter, we are called to intensify our interior journey of conversion. Let us allow ourselves to encounter the loving gaze of our Father, and return to Him with all our hearts, rejecting every sinful compromise. May the Virgin Mary accompany us into the revitalizing embrace of Divine Mercy.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I express my closeness to the Missionaries of Charity at this time of great loss which they experienced two days ago with the assassination of four of their Religious in Aden (Yemen), where they were helping the elderly. I pray for them and for the other persons who were killed in the attack, and for their families. These are today's martyrs! Their story is not told in the newspapers, they do not make the news, but these have given their blood for the Church. These people are victims of the attack perpetrated by those who killed them, and also of indifference, the globalization of indifference, all those who do not pay attention ... May Mother Teresa accompany her sisters, martyred because of their charity, into paradise, and may she intercede for peace and holy respect for human life.
As a concrete sign of commitment to peace and to life, I want to mention and express admiration for the initiative of humanitarian corridors for refugees, which have recently been launched in Italy. This pilot project, which combines solidarity and security, allows you to help people who are fleeing from war and violence, like the hundred refugees who have already moved into Italy, among which are sick children, disabled persons, widows of war with their children and the elderly. I also welcome this initiative because it is ecumenical, supported by the Saint Egidio Community and the Federation of Italian Evangelical Churches, as well as the Waldensian and the Methodist Churches.
I greet you all, pilgrims who have come from Italy and from many other countries, especially the faithful from the Catholic Mission in Hagen (Germany), as well as those from Timisoara (Romania), Valencia (Spain) and from Denmark.
I greet the parish groups from Taranto, Avellino, Dobbiaco, Fane (Verona) and Rome; the young people from Milan, Almenno San Salvatore, Verdellino-Zingonia, Latiano and the youth from Vigonovo; the Don Carlo Costamagna school in Busto Arsizio and Immacolata from Soresina; the Saint Mary of the Angels and of Hope prayer groups; and the National Confederation of Ex-alumni from Catholic Schools.
I ask you to please remember me and my collaborators in your prayers as we will be doing Spiritual Exercises (on retreat), beginning tonight and until next Friday.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Enjoy your lunch, and good bye!
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