During a general audience with constant threat of rain, the Pope paused in reflection of a Gospel passage: when Jesus chose Matthew as one of his disciples.
Matthew collected taxes for Rome, a profession very poorly regarded by the people. However, this did not matter to Jesus upon choosing him.
POPE FRANCIS
'Jesus shows sinners that he does not look at their past, social status, or appearance, but instead, proposes a new future. I once heard a very nice saying: There is no saint without a past and no sinner without a future. How beautiful is this.'
The Pope said that Jesus does not fear being among the sinners in order to raise them up; however, there are sinners who fear Jesus because accepting His help means acknowledging their own sins and imperfections.
Arrogance and pride, he concluded, are two enemies of Christian life.
POPE FRANCIS
'Arrogance and pride do not allow the acknowledgement of the need of salvation, and moreover, they do not allow one to see the face of God or to receive His mercy. They are walls. Arrogance, pride, are walls that prevent one's relationship with God.â?
The Pope concluded by asking for prayers for his visit to Lesbos, Greece, on Saturday, where he will travel to demonstate his closeness to the refugees and the Greek people.
POPE FRANCIS
'I will go, with my brothers, the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew and the Archbishop of Athens and all of Greece, Jerome, to express my closeness and solidarity to refugees and citizens of Lesbos and the entire Greek people who so generous in their welcoming.â?
Through the island of Lesbos have passed more than half a million refugees who have arrived in Europe in 2015.
JRB/MP
CTV
VM
-PR
Up:JRB
#Pope Francisco
