During his homily in Santa Marta, Pope Francis emphasized that the Christian faith is not a theory or a philosophy, but instead it is a personal meeting. In addition, he highlighted three ways in which people can encounter Jesus.
POPE FRANCIS
'That is, I must pray, with vigilance. I must be hardworking in charity â?? fraternal charity, not only giving alms, no; but being tolerant of the people who annoy me, being tolerant at home of the children when they make too much noise; or of the husband or wife when they are difficult; or the mother-in-lawâ?¦ I donâ??t knowâ?¦ but tolerant: tolerantâ?¦ charity, always, but hard-working.â?
The pope also revealed a 'surprise' that God has prepared. He says that 'Jesus is looking for us, before we start looking for Him.'
EXTRACTS FROM PAPAL HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'In the prayer at the beginning of the Mass, the Liturgy points out three attitudes: vigilance in prayer, industriousness in charity, and exultant in praise. That is, I must pray, with vigilance. I must be hardworking in charity â?? fraternal charity, not only giving alms, no; but being tolerant of the people who annoy me, being tolerant at home of the children when they make too much noise; or of the husband or wife when they are difficult; or the mother-in-lawâ?¦ I donâ??t knowâ?¦ but tolerant: tolerantâ?¦ charity, always, but hard-working. And also the joy of praising the Lord: â??Exulting in joy.â?? That is how we must live this journey, this desire to encounter the Lord. To encounter Him in a good way. Not standing still. And we will encounter the Lord.â?
'The Lord always goes beyond, goes first. We take one step and He takes ten. Always. The abundance of grace, of His love, of His tenderness that never tires of seeking us. Even, at times, with small things: We think that encountering the Lord would be something magnificent, like that man of Syria, Naaman, who was a leper [did]. And itâ??s not simpleâ?¦ And he too had a great surprise at Godâ??s way of acting. And our God is the God of surprises, the God that is seeking us, is awaiting us, and asks of us only the little step of good will.
'The doctors of the Law knew everything, all the dogmas of that time, all the morals of that time, everything. They did not have faith, because their hearts were far from God. Drawing away or having the will to go forward to encounter. And this is the grace that we ask for today: â??O God, our Father, raise up in us the desire to meet your Christ,â?? with good works. To meet Jesus. And for this we remember the grace that we have asked in prayer, with vigilance in prayer, industriousness in charity, and exulting in praise. And so we will encounter the Lord and we will have a very beautiful surprise.â?
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