Pope at Angelus: ‘Disciples of
Jesus follow faith, not miracles’
 |
| Pope Francis is accompanied at the Angelus by two children holding balloons (Vatican Media) |
Pope Francis prays the Angelus prayer with pilgrims gathered
in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, and reflects on the gratuitousness and
universality of salvation in Jesus Christ.
By Devin Watkins
Reflecting on the day’s Gospel (Lk 4:21-30), Pope Francis
explored the reaction of Jesus’ compatriots that Jesus himself is the one on
whom the Spirit of the Lord has descended and has sent to carry out God’s
mission of salvation for humanity.
They are skeptical of Jesus’ claim, said the Pope, and
demand he work miracles in their midst. Jesus, however, refuses.
Faith, not miracles
“God wants faith, they want miracles”, he said, “God wants
to save everyone, and they want a Messiah for their own advantage.”
Pope Francis said the people from Jesus’ hometown were
called “to open their hearts to the gratuitousness and universality of
salvation”. But they rebelled, he said, and even turned their rejection into
violent rage, to the point they were about to throw Jesus off a cliff.
Rejection and defeat
“Jesus, in living the mission entrusted to him by the
Father, knows well that he must face fatigue, rejection, persecution, and
defeat,” he said.
This, said Pope Francis, is the price that “authentic
prophecy is called to pay”, even today.
“Hard-nosed rejection, however, does not discourage Jesus,
nor does it stop the journey and the fruitfulness of his prophetic action.”
Modern prophets
The Holy Father said today’s world, too, needs to see the
Lord’s disciples acting as prophets, “people who are courageous and persevering
in responding to the Christian vocation.”
He said these are people who follow faith and not miracles,
are dedicated to the service of all and do not exclud any, and are “open to
accepting the will of the Father in themselves and who commit themselves to
witnessing to it faithfully for others.”
May we all, prayed Pope Francis, “grow and walk in the same
apostolic zeal for the Kingdom of God that animated Jesus’ mission.”
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét