EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY
JUBILEE AUDIENCE POPE
FRANCIS
Saint Peter's Square
Saturday, 10 September 2016
Saturday, 10 September 2016
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| PHOTO: www.tourinrome.com |
Mercy and Redemption
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Good morning!
The passage that we have
heard speaks of God’s mercy which is implemented in the Redemption, that is, in
the salvation which we were given with the Blood of his Son Jesus (cf. 1 Pet
1:18-21). The word “redemption” is not often used, yet it is fundamental because
it indicates the most radical liberation that God could fulfil for us, for all
of humanity and for all of creation.
It seems that man today no
longer likes to think he has been freed and saved through God’s intervention;
he deludes himself that his freedom is a force for obtaining everything. But in
reality this is not the case. How many illusions are sold on the pretext of
freedom, and how many new forms of slavery are created in our times in the name
of a false freedom! Many, many slaves. ‘I do this because I want to, I take
drugs because I like to, I am free. I do elsewise’. They are slaves! They
become slaves in the name of freedom. We have all seen people like this who end
up on the ground. We need God to free us from every form of indifference, selfishness
and self-sufficiency”.
The words of the Apostle
Peter clearly express the meaning of the new life to which we are called. By
making Himself one of us, the Lord Jesus not only takes on the human condition,
but also raises us up to the possibility of being Children of God. By His death
and resurrection, Jesus Christ, the blameless Lamb, conquered death and sin to
free us from their dominion. He is the Lamb that was sacrificed for us, so that
we can receive a new life made up of forgiveness, love and joy. These three
words are beautiful: forgiveness, love and joy. All that He assumed was also
redeemed, freed and saved. Certainly, it is true that life puts us to the test,
and at times we suffer for this. However, in these moments we are invited to turn
our gaze to the crucified Jesus who suffers for us and with us, as sure proof
that God does not abandon us. Let us never forget that in anguish and
persecution, as in everyday sufferings, we are always freed by the merciful
hand of God who raises us up to Him and leads us to a new life.
God’s love is boundless:
we can discover ever new signs that show his attention towards us and, above
all, his wish to reach us and to await us. All our life, although marked by the
fragility of sin, is placed under the gaze of God who loves us. How many pages
of Sacred Scripture speak to us of God’s presence, closeness and tenderness for
every man, especially for the smallest, the poor and the troubled! God has
great tenderness, great love for the small ones, for the weak, for those
rejected by society. The greater our need, the more his gaze upon us is filled
with mercy. He feels compassion and pity towards us because He knows our
weaknesses. He knows our sins and He forgives us. He always forgives us! He is
so good, our Father is so good.
Therefore, dear brothers
and sisters, let us open up to the Lord, and receive his grace! Because, as the
Psalm says, “For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is
plentious redemption” (130[129]:7).
Special greetings:
I warmly greet the
Italian-speaking pilgrims!
My thought goes first of
all to the National Civil Protection Service which was supposed to be present
today, and which cancelled its participation in order to continue the precious
work of care and assistance to the populations struck by the earthquake on 24
August. I thank them for their dedication and the generous help offered in
these days! Thank you brothers and sisters!
I greet the
English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience,
particularly those from Botswana, South Africa, the Philippines and the United
States of America. During your visit to the Eternal City, may your faith in the
crucified and risen Christ be renewed and strengthened. May God fill you with
his reconciling and tender mercy. God bless you all!
I address a special
greeting to the young people of Catholic Action who are gathered for the Youth
Festival. I encourage you to continue on the path undertaken, always
cultivating the values of love for family and respect for creation, our common
home.
I greet those taking part
in the Jubilee of Universities and Research Centres, with the hope that the
teaching may be rich in values, so as to form people who are able to make their
God-given talents bear fruit.
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Editrice Vaticana
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