Vatican City (AsiaNews) – Pope Francis today delivered a message of hope to the faithful gathered today in St Peter's Square for the Sunday Angelus despite the rain.
In his address, the pontiff said that, “God never stops. He finds a thousand ways to reach everyone, each and every one of us, wherever we are, without calculation and without conditions, opening even in the darkest nights of humanity windows of light that the darkness cannot obscure.”
Citing a verse from the prologue to the Gospel of John in today’s liturgy, “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it,” Francis called on the faithful to see in the mystery of Christmas, “how powerful is God's love, which is not overcome by anything and which, despite obstacles and rejections, continues to shine and illuminate our path.”
“It is a reality that consoles us and encourages us, especially in a time such as ours, a time that is not easy, where there is a great need for light, for hope, and a need for peace, a world where men at times create situations so complicated that it seems impossible to get out of them.”
Yet, “today the Word of God tells us that it is not so! Rather, it calls us to imitate the God of love, opening up glimmers of light wherever we can, with whomever we meet, context: family, social, international.”
The Lord “invites us not to fear taking the first step – this is the Lord’s invitation today – not to fear taking the first step. It takes courage to do it, but let us not be afraid to throw open bright windows of closeness to those who are suffering, of forgiveness, of compassion and reconciliation”.
For the pontiff, “this invitation resounds in a particular way in the Jubilee Year that has just begun, urging us to be messengers of hope with a simple but concrete ‘yes’ to life, with choices that bring life.”
Hence, he urges the faithful to ask themselves at the start of the new year: “how can I open a window of light in my environment and in my relationships? Where can I be a glimmer of light that lets God’s love pass through? What is the first step I should take today?”
After the Angelus prayer, Francis turned his attention to many areas of the world wounded by war, urging the faithful to “continue to pray for peace, in Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Myanmar, and Sudan. May the international community act firmly so that humanitarian law is respected in conflicts. No more striking schools, hospitals; no more hitting workplaces! Let us not forget that war is always a defeat, always!”
