Pope: Jesus who is praying for us is the cornerstone
of our life
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis said the cornerstone of life for Christians is Jesus who is
praying for us, pointing out that Jesus always turned to prayer at all the key
moments in his life. His remarks came during his Mass celebrated on Friday
morning in the chapel of the Santa Marta residence.
Taking
his cue from the Gospel reading recounting how Jesus spent the night in prayer
before choosing his disciples, the Pope’s homily reflected on the fundamental
importance of prayer for Christians. He said whilst Jesus is the cornerstone of
the Church and there is no Church without Him, the key to this cornerstone is
Jesus who is praying for us.
The
cornerstone of the Church is Jesus in front of the Father who is praying for us
“‘Jesus
went up to the mountain to pray and he spent the night in prayer to God.’ And
then the rest followed, the crowds, the choosing of his disciples, the
healings, the casting out of demons… Yes, the cornerstone is Jesus but Jesus
who prays. Jesus is praying. He prayed and he continues to pray for the Church.
The cornerstone of the Church is our Lord in front of the Father who intercedes
on our behalf, who is praying for us. We pray to Him but the key thing is that
He is praying for us.”
Our
security is Jesus praying for each one of us
Pope
Francis went on to describe how Jesus always prayed for his followers, be it at
the Last Supper or before performing a miracle such as when he prayed to the
Father before raising Lazarus from the dead.
“Jesus
prayed on the Mount of Olives, on the Cross, he ended praying: his life ended
in prayer. And this is our security, this is our foundation, this is our
cornerstone: Jesus who is praying for us! Jesus who is praying for me!
And each of us can say this: I am certain that Jesus is praying for me;
that he is in front of the Father and naming me. This is the cornerstone of the
Church: Jesus in prayer.”
Another
example of Jesus praying for his followers, said the Pope, came before his
Passion when Jesus told Peter he had been praying for him to withstand Satan’s
temptation and for his faith to hold firm.
“And
what Jesus tells Peter, he tells you and you and me, everybody: ‘I have prayed
for you, I am praying for you, I am now praying for you’ and when He comes onto
the altar, He comes to intercede, to pray for us. As he did on the Cross.
And this gives us a great sense of security. I belong to this community
that’s solid because Jesus is its cornerstone, Jesus who is praying for me, who
is praying for us. Today we’d do well to reflect on the Church, reflect on this
mystery of the Church. We are all like a building but its foundation is Jesus,
Jesus who is praying for us, Jesus who is praying for me.”
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