“Family" atmosphere at the Mass celebrated by Francis on his 77th birthday. God "has made history. God chose to become history. He is with us. Has made the journey with us". "But what is the name of God? We are, each of us . He takes His surname from each of us. ‘I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Pedro, of Marietta , Armony , Marisa , of Simon, of all! ' .

Vatican City ( AsiaNews) - A "family" atmosphere pervaded Mass celebrated by Pope Francis on his 77th birthday today.  Marking the occasion, the Pope wanted the staff of Casa Santa Marta - where he lives - to participate in the Mass with him. The Secretary of State , Msgr. Pietro Parolin and the dean of the College of Cardinals , Angelo Sodano were also there to wish the Pope a happy birthday. And even four homeless people who live in the area near the Vatican. Everyone, after the ceremony, had breakfast together.

In his homily, Vatican Radio reports, Pope Francis took a cue from today's Gospel, focusing on the genealogy of Jesus, to dwell on the Lord's presence in our lives. "I once heard someone say: ' But this Gospel is like reading the phone book!' No, it is quite another thing: this Gospel story is pure history and has an important topic. It is pure history, because God, as Pope St. Leo said, God sent forth his Son. And Jesus is consubstantial with the Father, God, but also inseparable from his Mother, a woman. And this is the consubstantiality of the Mother. God has made ​​history. God chose to become history. He is with us. He made the journey with us. "

After the first sin in Paradise, the Pope said , "He had this idea: to make the journey with us." He called Abraham, "the first named on this list " and " invited him to walk with Him." And Abraham "began that journey". And then Isaac, Jacob, Judah. "And so the journey continues down through history". God, the Pope said, "walks with his people. God did not want to come to save us without history. He wanted to make history with us". A history, he said, "that goes from holiness to sin. In this list there are saints", " but there are also sinners " :

"Top rate sinners who have committed major sins. And God has made history with them. Sinners, who have not responded to all that God thought for them. We think of Solomon, so great, so smart, and ended up, poor fellow, not evening knowing his name! But God was with him. And that is beautiful, is not it? God is consubstantial with us. He makes history with us. What's more, when God wants to say who He is, He says ' I am the God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob ' . But what is God's family name? We are, each of us . He takes our names as His last name . 'I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Pedro , of Marietta , of Armony , Marisa , of Simon, of them all! He takes His surname from ours. We are, each of us, the name of God".

"He is our God - he added - He has made history with us took our name from His surname", "allowed us to write history". "We write this story of grace and sin , and He follows us". This , he reiterated , " is the humility of God , God's patience , love of God.  He is ours!" And this, he confided, moves us. "So much love , so much tenderness , to have such a God " :

"His joy was sharing His life with us. The Book of Wisdom says that the joy of the Lord is among the children of men, with us. Approaching Christmas, it makes us think, if He has made history with us, if He took his surname from us, if He has left us we write history, we should at least let Him write our history. And that is holiness: ' Let the Lord write our history ' . And this is a Christmas greeting for all of us. That the Lord will write our history and that you let Him write it. So be it! "

 

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