ANGELUS POPE FRANCIS
Saint
Peter's Square-Sunday, 8 January 2017
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| PHOTO: Zenit.org / Angelus / PHOTO.VA - OSSERVATORE ROMANO |
FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE
LORD
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Good morning!
Today, the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus, the
Gospel (Mt 3:13-17) describes the scene which occurred at the River Jordan:
Jesus, too, is in the midst of the penitent crowd which approaches John the
Baptist to receive baptism. He stood in line. John would like to prevent him
from [being baptized], saying: “I need to be baptized by you” (3:14). The
Baptist, indeed, is aware of the great distance there is between him and Jesus.
But Jesus has come precisely to bridge the gap between man and God: if He is
completely on God’s side, He is also completely on mankind’s side, and reunites
what had been separated. For this reason he asks John to baptize him, so that
all righteousness may be fulfilled (cf. v. 15), namely, that the plan of God
may be fulfilled, the plan which passes by way of obedience and solidarity with
fragile and sinful mankind, the way of humility and of God’s full closeness to
his children. Because God is very close to us, very close!
At the moment in which Jesus, baptized by John,
comes out of the waters of the River Jordan, the voice of God the Father is
heard from on high: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (v.
17). At the same time the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, alights upon
Jesus, who publicly begins his mission of salvation; a mission characterized by
a manner: the way of a humble and gentle servant, armed only with the power of
truth, as Isaiah had prophesied: “He will not cry or lift up his voice, … a
bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he
will faithfully bring forth justice” (42:2-3). A humble and gentle servant.
This is Jesus’ way, as well as the manner of
Christ’s disciples’ missionary work: To proclaim the Gospel with gentleness,
but also firmness, without shouting, without reprimanding anyone, but gently
and firmly, without arrogance or imposition. The true mission is never
proselytism, but drawing people to Christ. But how? How is this attraction to
Christ achieved? With one’s own witness, starting from the unwavering union
with him in prayer, in adoration and in concrete works of charity, which is
service to Jesus present in the least of his brothers and sisters. In imitation
of Jesus, the good and merciful Shepherd, and moved by his grace, we are called
to make our life a joyous testimony that illuminates the way, that brings hope
and love.
This feast makes us rediscover the gift and the
beauty of being a community of baptized, that is, of sinners — we all are
sinners — saved by the grace of Christ, truly integrated, by the work of the
Holy Spirit, in the filial relationship of Jesus with the Father, welcomed into
the bosom of Mother Church, making possible a brotherhood that knows no
barriers or borders.
May the Virgin Mary help all of us Christians to
maintain an ever keen and grateful awareness of our own Baptism and to
faithfully follow the path opened by this Sacrament of our rebirth. Ever with
humility, gentleness and firmness.
After the Angelus:
Dear brothers and sisters! In the context of the
Feast of the Lord’s Baptism, this morning I baptized a large group of infants:
28. Let us pray for them and for their families. Also, yesterday afternoon, I
baptized a young catechumen. And I would like to extend my prayer to all
parents who in this period are preparing for a child’s Baptism or have recently
celebrated it. I invoke the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon them and their
children, so that this Sacrament, so simple but at the same time so important,
may be lived with faith and joy.
I would also like to invite you to join in the
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which spreads, also through social networks,
the prayer intentions I propose for the Church each month. In this way, the
Apostleship of Prayer moves forward and communion grows.
In these very cold days, I think of and invite
you to think of all of the people who live on the streets, suffering the cold
and oftentimes indifference. Unfortunately, some have not survived. We pray for
them and we ask the Lord to warm our hearts so that we may be able to help
them.
I greet you all, faithful of Rome, pilgrims from
Italy and from other countries. In particular, the group of young people from
Cagliari, Italy whom I encourage to continue on the journey which began with
the Sacrament of Confirmation. And I thank them because they offer me the
occasion to stress that Confirmation is not only a destination — as some say,
the “farewell sacrament”, no no! — it is above all a point of departure in
Christian life. Go forth with the joy of the Gospel!
I wish everyone a happy Sunday. Please, do not
forget to pray for me. Enjoy your
lunch. Arrivederci!
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