Pope: ‘Jesus is always with people but never seeking
popularity’
(Vatican
Radio) If we keep our eyes constantly fixed on Jesus, we will discover
with surprise that it is he who looks lovingly upon each of us. That was Pope
Francis’ message on Tuesday at his morning Mass in the Casa Santa Marta.
Jesus does not seek popularity, but is always among
people
The author of Hebrews exhorts us to run in the faith
"with perseverance, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus." In the Gospel,
Jesus looks at us and sees us. Pope Francis explained that he is close to us,
he "is always in the crowd":
- “He
didn’t walk around with guards to protect him, so that the people could
not touch him. No, no! He stayed there and people surrounded him. And
there were more people around every time Jesus went out. Statisticians
might have been inclined to publish: ‘Rabbi Jesus’ popularity is falling’.
But he sought something else: he sought people. And the people sought him.
The people had their gaze fixed on him and he had his fixed on them. ‘Yes,
yes, on the people, on the multitude’ – ‘No, on each individual!’. This is
the peculiarity of Jesus’ gaze: He does not standardize people; He looks
at each person.”
Jesus sees both great and small things
The Gospel of Mark narrates two miracles: Jesus heals a
woman suffering from hemorrhaging for 12 years who, though pressed by the
crowd, was able to touch his cloak. And he realizes that he was touched. Then,
he raises the twelve year-old daughter of Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He
understands that the girl is hungry and tells her parents to give her something
to eat:
- “The
gaze of Jesus falls on both the big and the small. That's how Jesus sees
us all: He sees all things, but looks at each of us. He sees our big
problems, our greatest joys, and also looks at the little things about us.
Because he is close. Jesus is not afraid of the big things, but also takes
account of the small ones. That's how Jesus looks at us.”
The surprise of encountering Jesus
If we run “with perseverance, keeping our eyes fixed on
Jesus”, Pope Francis said, “we will be ‘completely astonished’, just as
happened to the people after the raising of Jairus’ daughter”:
- “I
go forward, looking at Jesus. I walk ahead, keeping my gaze fixed on
Jesus, and what do I find? That he has his gaze fixed on me! And that
makes me feel this great astonishment. This is the astonishment of the
encounter with Jesus. But let us not be afraid! We are not afraid, just as
that woman was not afraid to touch Jesus’ mantle. Let us not be afraid!
Let us run down this road with our gaze ever fixed on Jesus. And we will
have a beautiful surprise: He will fill us with awe. Jesus himself has his
gaze fixed on me.”
(Devin Sean Watkins)
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