ANGELUS POPE FRANCIS
Saint
Peter's Square
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
On this last Sunday of the liturgical year, we
celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. And today’s Gospel leads us to
contemplate Jesus as he introduces himself to Pilate as king of a kingdom that
“is not of this world” (Jn 18:36). This doesn’t mean that Christ is the king of another
world, but that he is king in another manner, but he is king in
this world. It is a contrast between two types of logic. Worldly logic is based
on ambition, competition, it fights using the weapons of fear, extortion, and
the manipulation of consciences. On the other hand, the logic of the Gospel, that
is, the logic of Jesus, is expressed in humility and gratuitousness. It is
silently but effectively affirmed with the strength of truth. The kingdoms of
this world at times are sustained by arrogance, rivalries and oppression; the
reign of Christ is a “kingdom of justice, love and peace” (Preface).
When did Jesus reveal himself as king? In the event of
the Cross! Those who look at the Cross cannot but see the astonishing
gratuitousness of love. One of you could say, “Father, that was a failure!”. It
is precisely in the failure of sin — sin is a failure — in the failure of human
ambitions: the triumph of the Cross is there, the gratuitousness of love is
there. In the failure of the Cross, love is seen, a love that is gratuitous,
which Jesus gives us. For a Christian, speaking of power and strength means
referring to the power of the Cross, and the strength of Jesus’ love: a love
which remains steadfast and complete, even when faced with rejection, and it is
shown as the fulfillment of a life expended in the total surrender of oneself
for the benefit of humanity. On Calvary, the passers-by and the leaders derided
Jesus, nailed to the Cross, and they challenged him: “Save yourself, and come
down from the cross!” (Mk 15:30). “Save yourself!”. But paradoxically the truth
of Jesus is precisely what is hurled at him in a mocking tone by his
adversaries: “he cannot save himself!” (v. 31). Had Jesus come down from the
Cross, he would have given in to the temptations of the prince of this world.
Instead, he cannot save himself precisely so as to be able to save others,
precisely because he has given his life for us, for each one of us. To say:
“Jesus gave his life for the world” is true. But it is more beautiful to say:
“Jesus gave his life for me”. And today, in this Square, let each one of us say
in his or her heart: “He gave his life for me, in order to save each one of us
from our sins”.
Who understood this? One of the criminals who was
crucified with him understood it well, the so-called “good thief”, who implored
him, “Jesus remember me when you come into your kingly power” (Lk 23:42). But
this was a criminal, a corrupt person, and he was there in fact because he had
been condemned to death for all of the brutalities that he had committed in his
life. But he saw love in Jesus’ manner, in Jesus’ meekness. The kingship of
Jesus doesn’t oppress us, but rather frees us from our weaknesses and miseries,
encouraging us to walk the path of the good, of reconciliation and of
forgiveness. Let us look at the Cross of Jesus, let us look at the “good
thief”, and let us all say together what the good thief said: Jesus, remember
me when you come into your kingdom”. All together: “Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom”. Ask Jesus, when we feel that we are weak, that we are
sinners, defeated, to look at us, and say to him: “You are there. Don’t forget
me”.
Faced with so many lacerations in the world and too
many wounds in the flesh of mankind, let us ask the Virgin Mary to sustain us
in our commitment to emulate Jesus, our king, by making his kingdom present
with gestures of tenderness, understanding and mercy.
After the Angelus:
Yesterday, in Barcelona, Federico de Berga and 25
companion martyrs were beatified. They were killed in Spain during the violent
persecution against the Church in the last century. They were priests,
professed youth awaiting ordination and lay brothers of the Order of Friars Minor
Capuchin. Let us entrust to their intercession our many brothers and sisters
who sadly, still today, in various parts of the world, are persecuted because
of their faith in Christ.
I greet all of you pilgrims, from Italy and from
various countries: families, parish groups, associations. In particular, I
greet those from Mexico, Australia and Paderborn, Germany. I greet the faithful
of Avola, Mestre, Foggia, Pozzallo, Campagna and Val di Non, Italy, as well as
the musical groups, whom I heard! — and who celebrate St Cecilia, patroness of
song and music. After the Angelus, let yourselves be heard, because you play
very well.
On Wednesday, I begin my trip to Africa, to visit
Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic. I ask all of you to pray for
this journey, that it may be for all of these beloved brothers and sisters, and
also for me, a sign of closeness and love. Together let us ask the Virgin to
bless these beloved lands, so that there may be peace and prosperity in them.
[Hail Mary…]
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don’t forget to
pray for me. Have a good lunch. Arrivederci!
© Copyright - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Post a Comment