In the pope's homily in Casa Santa Marta, he speaks about Jesus' journey to Jerusalem to accept His death on the cross. He said it was characterized by obedience, even in the face of loneliness or suffering.
POPE FRANCIS
'How many times do I try to do so many things and I do not look at you, and think about what you have done for me? That you entered the world in patience – as a patient man, a patient God – and with so much patience bear my sins and my failures? And to speak with Jesus like this. He is always determined to go forward, to face problems, and to be grateful.”
He concluded with the request to take 15 minutes in front of the Crucifix to imagine Jesus walking directly to accept His death on the Cross. Pope Francis said Christians should ask for the grace and courage to follow Jesus closely.
EXCERPTS OF HOMILY IN ENGLISH
'Only once, in the Garden of Gethsemane did He ask the Father to ‘remove the cup of wrath He was about to drink,’ but each time He submitted to the Father’s will. Obedient, as the Father wants. To be decisive and obedient, and nothing else. To be like this until the end. The Lord comes with patience... He comes in patience. He is an example of a journey not only to die by suffering on the cross, but to also walk in patience.
Jesus was alone. He was not accompanied in this decision, because no one understood the mystery of Jesus: Jesus' solitude on the way to Jerusalem: alone. He was like this until the end. We think then of the abandonment by the apostles, of Peter's betrayal...all alone. The Gospel tells us that only one angel from heaven appeared to comfort Him in the Garden of Olives. He only had that company.
How many times do I try to do so many things and I do not look at you, and what you have done for me? That you entered the world in patience - a patient man, a patient God – who with so much patience bears my sins and my failures? And to speak with Jesus like this. He is always determined to go forward, to face problems, and to be grateful. Today let us take some time, a few minutes - five, ten, fifteen - in front of the Crucifix perhaps, or using one's imagination to see Jesus walking directly to Jerusalem. Let us ask for the grace to have the courage to follow Him closely.'
