SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE
LORD
ANGELUS POPE FRANCIS
Saint
Peter's Square
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Tuesday, 6 January 2015
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning! Happy
Feast Day!
On
Christmas Eve we meditated on the hastening of several shepherds of the people
of Israel to the grotto of Bethlehem; today, the Solemnity of the Epiphany, we
remember the arrival of the Magi, who came from the Orient to adore the newborn
King of the Jews and Universal Saviour and to offer Him symbolic gifts. With
their act of adoration, the Magi bear witness that Jesus has come to earth to
save not one people alone but all peoples. Therefore, on today’s feast our gaze
broadens to the horizons of the whole world in order to celebrate the
“manifestation” of the Lord to all peoples, which is the manifestation of the
love and universal salvation of
God. He does not reserve his love to the privileged few, but offers it to all.
As
the Creator and Father is of all people, so the Savior wants to be for all
people. That is why we are called to always nourish great faith and hope for
every person and his or her salvation: even those who seem far from the Lord
are followed — or better yet “chased” — by his passionate love, by his faithful
and also humble love. For God’s love is humble, very humble!
The
Gospel account of the Magi describes their journey from the East as a journey
of the spirit, as a journey
toward the encounter with Christ. They are attentive to signs that indicate his presence; they
are tireless in
facing the trials of the search; they arecourageous in
deducing the implications for life that derive from encounter with the Lord.
This is life: Christian life is a journey, but being attentive, tireless and
courageous. A Christian journeys like this. Journey attentively, tirelessly,
courageously. The experience of the Magi evokes the journey of every man and
woman towards Christ. As for the Magi, so for us, to seek God means to journey— and as I said: attentive,
tireless and courageous — focused on the sky and discerning in the visible sign
of the star the invisible God who speaks to our hearts. The star that is able
to lead every man to Jesus is the Word
of God, the Word that is in the Bible, in the Gospels. The Word of God
is the light that guides our journey, nourishes our faith and regenerates it.
It is the Word of God that continually renews our hearts and our communities.
Therefore, let us not forget to read it and meditate upon it every day, so that
it may become for each like a flame that we bear inside us to illuminate our
steps, as well as those of others who journey beside us, who are perhaps
struggling to find the path to Christ. Always with the Word of God! The Word of
God carried in your hand: a little Gospel in your pocket, purse, always to be
read. Do not forget this: always with me, the Word of God!
On
this day of Epiphany, our thoughts turn also to our brothers and sisters of the Christian East, Catholics
and Orthodox, many of whom are celebrating the Birth of the Lord tomorrow. May
our warmest wishes reach them.
I
would like to recall, then, that today we celebrate Children’s mission Day. It is the feast dedicated to
children who joyfully live the gift of faith and pray for the light of Jesus to
reach all the children of the world. I encourage teachers to cultivate the
missionary spirit in the little ones. May they not be closed but open children
and young people. May they see a great horizon, may their hearts move toward
this horizon, in order that witnesses of God’s tenderness and heralds of the
Gospel might arise among them. Now let us turn to the Virgin Mary and invoke
her protection on the Universal Church, in order that the Gospel of Christ, the
light of nations, the light of all peoples, might be spread through the entire
world. And may she make us increasingly embrace the journey; may she make us
journey and be attentive, untiring and courageous on that path.
After
the Angelus:
Dear
brothers and sisters, I greet you all, Romans and pilgrims, renewing my wish
for peace and every good in the Lord.
I
greet the faithful of Aachen (Germany), from Kilbeggan (Ireland), and students
from Northfield, Minnesota (USA); confirmands of Romano di Lombardia and their
parents; faithful of Biassono, Verona, Arzignano, Acerra and of several
Dioceses in Puglia; and young people of the Opera Don Orione.
Remember
well: life is a journey, always a journey, in search of God. Journey
attentively, tirelessly and courageously. And something is missing, one thing
is missing: attentively, tirelessly and courageously... and what is missing?
Journey with light! And what is this light? The Gospel, the Word of God. Always
with the Gospel: in your pocket, in your purse, in order to read it, always
with us. Journey attentively, tirelessly, courageously and with the light of
the Word of God.
To
all I wish a happy Feast. Do not forget to pray for me and have a good lunch. Arrivederci!
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Copyright - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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