At the general audience, Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the importance of prayer. He spoke about the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan during a penitential moment.
With his prayer, the pope explains, that Jesus opened a 'breach' in heaven to bring to God even those who do not feel worthy.
The pope added that “we are enabled to share in Jesus’ own prayer, the eternal expression of his dialogue of love with the Father.”
SUMMARY OF POPE'S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
in our continuing catechesis on prayer, we now turn to the life and teaching of Jesus. The Lord chose to begin his public ministry by being baptized in the Jordan river. It is significant that this great event took place in the midst of a community, in an atmosphere of communal prayer and repentance.
Sinless himself, the eternal Son of God was baptized by John as a sign of his loving solidarity with sinful humanity. Saint Luke tells us that, after his baptism, as Jesus prayed, the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit descended upon him and the voice of the Father proclaimed him as his beloved Son. By our own baptism, we become sharers in Christ’s sonship through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We are thus enabled to share in Jesus’ own prayer, the eternal expression of his dialogue of love with the Father. At every moment of our lives, even those in which we feel the weight of the cross and the burden of our sins, may we persevere in prayer, confident that, as Christ’s brothers and sisters, beloved sons and daughters of our heavenly Father, the gates of heaven are always open to us.
Santo Padre:
Saluto cordialmente i pellegrini di lingua inglese. Su voi e sulle vostre famiglie invoco la
gioia e la pace di Cristo. Dio vi benedica!
Speaker:
I welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors who join us for today’s Audience. Uponyou and your families I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
Javier Romero
Translation: Christian Campos
