» 02/14/2010 13:16 VATICAN Pope: The Gospel of Christ responds to the thirst for justice with the revolution of love Angelus preceding Ash Wednesday, Benedict XVI delivers his message for Lent, on the theme of justice. The justice of God "raises up those who have been wrongly humiliated". Visit to a Caritas hostel in Termini Station. Best wishes to the peoples of Asia for the Lunar New Year, particularly to China and Vietnam.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The Gospel of Christ responds positively to the human thirst for justice, but in an unexpected and surprising way. He is not proposing a social and political revolution, but one of love, which he already realised through his Cross and Resurrection".Thus Benedict XVI during his reflection before praying the Angelus today with pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square.
The theme of justice, he said, is at the heart of his message for Lent this year (See: 04/02/2010 Pope: God's justice is not that of men), which begins February 17, Wednesday Ash. "Today - he continued - I wish, therefore, to ideally deliver it to everyone, please read and meditate on it."
Jesus' Beatitudes are based on the Cross and resurrection, “offering a new horizon of Justice, inaugurated by Easter, by which we can become righteous and build a better world".
Previously, taking a cue from the Gospel of today's Mass, the pontiff revealed the link between the happiness and justice. Referring to Luke 6,20-26, he said, "Jesus raised his eyes toward his disciples, saying:" Blessed are you poor ... Blessed are you who are now hungry……. Blessed are you who are now weeping,... when people hate you, …..on account of the Son of Man. Why doe he proclaim them blessed? Why will the justice of God ensure that they are satisfied, joyful, compensated for any false accusation, in a word, why does hewelcome them even now in his kingdom. The Beatitudes are based on the fact that there is a divine justice, which raises up people who have been wrongly humiliated and lowers who is exalted (cf. Lk 14:11). "
"This righteousness and happiness are realised in the 'Kingdom of Heaven' or 'Kingdom of God', which will have its fulfilment at the end of time but that is already present in history. Where the poor are comforted and admitted to the banquet of life, there the justice of God is already manifest. This is the task that the Lord's disciples are called to play also in today's society. "
In the morning, Benedict XVI had visited the Caritas Rome hostel, at the Termini railway station, where as well as shelter for homeless people; there are also social health services, a clinic and a canteen. During his Angelus, recalling his visit, he added: "I warmly encourage those involved in this worthy institution and others in all parts of the world, who carry out similar voluntary work of justice and love."
After the Marian prayer, before greetings in different languages, the pope expressed his best wishes to the many peoples of Asia who celebrate today the beginning of the Lunar New Year of the Tiger. "Many Asian countries - he said - for example, China and Vietnam, and in many communities around the world are today celebrating the Lunar New Year. These are days of celebration, that those people live as a privileged occasion to strengthen family and generational bonds. I wish all to maintain and enhance the rich heritage of spiritual and moral values that are rooted firmly in the culture of those peoples. "
