Pope
Francis: in all our trials, the Lord goes before us
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis celebrated Mass on the grounds
of the airport in Tacloban City, Philippines, on Saturday morning. An estimated
500 thousand people braved wind and often driving rain to take part in the
liturgy. Putting aside his prepared text for the homily, the Holy Father spoke
to the gathered faithful in his native Spanish. Below, please find integral
audio and a transcription of the English translation of the Holy Father's
remarks, which were translated on-site by one of the ministers in the sanctuary.
We have a high priest who is capable of sympathising with our
weaknesses. Jesus is like us. Jesus lived like us and is the same us in every
respect, except sin because he was not a sinner. But to be more like us he
assumed our condition and our sin. He made himself into sin. This is what St
Paul tells us. And Jesus always goes before us and when we pass an
experience, a cross, he passed there before us. And if today we find
ourselves here 14 months afterwards, 14 months precisely after the Typhoon
Yolanda hit, it is because we have the security of knowing we will not weaken
in our faith because Jesus has been here before us. In his Passion he
assumed all our pain. Therefore he is capable of understanding us, as we heard
in the first reading.
I’d like to tell you
something close to my heart. When I saw from Rome that catastrophe I had to be
here. And on those very days I decided to come here. I am here to be with you –
a little bit late, but I’m here. I have come to tell you that Jesus is Lord.
And he never lets us down. Father, you might say to me, I was let down because
I have lost so many things, my house, my livelihood. It’s true if you say that
and I respect those sentiments. But Jesus is there, nailed to the cross, and
from there he does not let us down. He was consecrated as Lord on that throne
and there he experienced all the calamities that we experience. Jesus is Lord.
And the Lord from the cross is there for you. In everything the same as us.
That is why we have a Lord who cries with us and walks with us in the most
difficult moments of life.
So many of you have
lost everything. I don’t know what to say to you. But the Lord does know what
to say to you. Some of you have lost part of your families. All I can do is
keep silence and walk with you all with my silent heart. Many of you have asked
the Lord – why lord? And to each of you, to your heart, Christ responds with
his heart from the cross. I have no more words for you. Let us look to Christ.
He is the lord. He understands us because he underwent all the trials that we,
that you, have experienced. And beside the cross was his Mother. We are like a
little child in the moments when we have so much pain and no longer understand
anything. All we can do is grab hold of her hand firmly and say “Mommy” -
like a child does when it is afraid. It is perhaps the only words we can say in
difficult times – “Mommy”.
Let us respect a
moment of silence together and look to Christ on the cross. He understands us
because he endured everything. Let us look to our Mother and, like a little
child, let us hold onto her mantle and with a true heart say – “Mother”. In
silence, tell your Mother what you feel in your heart. Let us know that we have
a Mother, Mary, and a great Brother, Jesus. We are not alone. We also have many
brothers who in this moment of catastrophe came to help. And we too, because of
this, we feel more like brothers and sisters because we helped each other.
This is what comes
from my heart. Forgive me if I have no other words to express myself. Please
know that Jesus never lets you down. Know that the tenderness of Mary never
lets you down. And holding onto her mantle and with the power that cones from
Jesus’ love on the cross, let us move forward and walk together as brothers and
sisters in the Lord.
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