Pope: May the Holy Spirit help us to understand and to remember the words of Jesus
After the Marian prayer of the Regina Caeli Francis appeals for peace in Syria: "There is a spiral of violence in the country that continues to aggravate the already desperate humanitarian situation of the country, particularly in the city of Aleppo, and claim innocent victims, even among children, the sick and those who with great sacrifice pledged to provide assistance to others ". Economic development "must take into account human dignity and fully respect labor laws". Pedophilia "is a tragedy. We must not tolerate it, the guilty must be severely punished."
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Despite difficulties and suffering "we are not alone! And the sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit is also the peace that Jesus gives to his disciples: "I give you my peace" (v. 27). It is different from what men are hoping and trying to accomplish. The peace of Jesus arises from the victory over sin, selfishness that prevents us from loving one another as brothers", said Pope Francis this morning, before praying the Regina Caeli. The pontiff also spoke of the Orthodox Easter, the humanitarian tragedy caused by the war in Syria and the need for greater respect for human dignity in the workplace.
Commenting on today's Gospel, the Pope pointed out that before facing the Passion, "Jesus promises the Apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit, that will have the task of teaching and remembering his words to the community of disciples. Jesus himself says: "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you" (Jn 14:26). Teach and remember: "This is what the Holy Spirit does in our hearts."
Before returning to the Father, Jesus foretells the coming of the Spirit that will teach the first disciples to understand the Gospel ever more fully, to accept it in their lives and to bring it to life through their witness. Jesus promises the apostles that they will not be alone: "The the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, will be with them, beside them indeed, he will be in them, to defend them and support them. Jesus returns to the Father but continues to accompany and teach his disciples through the gift of the Spirit. "
The mission of the Spirit has a second aspect: "To help the apostles to remember the words of Jesus. The Spirit's task is to awaken their memory, to help the, remember the words of Jesus. The divine Master already spoke of all that he intended to entrust to the Apostles: with Him, the Word incarnate, the revelation is complete. The Spirit will remember the teachings of Jesus in the various concrete circumstances of life, to be able to put into practice. It is precisely what is happening today in the Church, guided by the light and the Holy Spirit, that it should bring the gift of salvation to everyone, that is, God’s love and mercy".
For example, he adds, "when you read every day - as I have advised you - a verse, a passage from the Gospel: we ask the Holy Spirit, to understand and remember these words of Jesus. And then read a passage, every day: but that prayer, first of all, to the Spirit that is in our hearts. That I can remember and understand".
We are not alone, emphasized Francis, "Jesus is near us, among us, within us! His new presence in history takes place through the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whom you can establish a living relationship with Him, the Crucified and Risen One. The Spirit, poured out in us through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, acts in our lives. He guides us in the way we think, act, distinguish what is good and what is bad. He helps us to practice charity of Jesus, his giving to others, especially those most in need ".
A sign of the presence of the Spirit "is the peace that Jesus gives to his disciples:" I give you my peace "(v. 27). It is different from what men are hoping or trying to accomplish. The peace of Jesus arises from the victory over sin, selfishness that prevents us from loving one another as brothers. It is God's gift and a sign of His presence. Every disciple, called today to follow Jesus carrying the Cross, receives within the peace of the Risen Christ in the certainty of His victory, and in expectation of His definitive coming. "
After the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the Pope sends his greetings to the Eastern Churches who today celebrate Easter, "the Risen Lord bring to all the gifts of his light and his peace. Christos anesti! ".
He immediately adds: "I receive with deep sorrow the tragic news coming from Syria, about the spiral of violence that continues to aggravate the already desperate humanitarian situation of the country, particularly in the city of Aleppo, and to claim innocent victims, even among children, the sick and those who with great sacrifice pledged to give help to others. I urge all parties to the conflict to respect the cessation of hostilities and to strengthen the ongoing dialogue, the only path that leads to peace. "
Marking the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, Francis cites an international conference which opens tomorrow at the Vatican and hopes that the event "will alert the authorities, political and economic institutions and civil society, to promote a model of development that takes into account human dignity, in full respect of labor laws and the environment ".
The Pope had a final thought for the Meter Association, which fights against pedophilia: "This is a tragedy. We must not tolerate child abuse, we must defend them. And we must severely punish offenders. Thank you for your commitment and continue your work with courage". And the Pope concluded with the traditional,"good lunch and good-bye. "
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