During his General Audience on the day before Holy Thursday, Pope Francis reflected on the theme, 'The Crucified, Source of Hope.' He explains that in difficult moments, God gives the grace of hope.
The Pope uses the example of Jesus' passion and death on the cross. It was a symbol of pain and torture, but with after Jesus' resurrection becomes a source of hope for Christians.
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH
Dear brothers and sisters:
In these days of Holy Week, we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. The cross, which first seems a sign of defeat and despair, proves instead to be the tree of life and the source of undying hope. Our contemplation of the crucified Jesus, in his nakedness and humiliation, invites us to strip ourselves of false illusions, to acknowledge the truth about ourselves, and to find healing and the possibility of a new beginning. The sufferings that Jesus embraced for our sake were not merely physical, but also included the human experiences of betrayal, denial and even, on the cross, abandonment by the Father.
In Jesus’ wounds, we can see our own; in his obedience to the Father’s will and his forgiveness of those who crucified him, he shows the victory of God’s love and offers us the hope of interior renewal and redemption. In these coming days, let us draw near to the Lord and place our hope in the power of his cross to turn evil into good, and suffering into a generous love of our brothers and sisters, especially those in greatest need.
