Pope at the Angelus: God ‘does not want worship’ without ‘love for others’
Pope Leo XIV addressed the faithful in St Peter's Square highlighting the Gospel image of the “narrow gate”. He made an appeal for the people of Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, victims of violence. He also urged the faithful to continue praying for peace in communion with the Ukrainian Church.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In his address in St Peter's Square for today’s Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV warned the faithful that, “it is not enough to perform religious acts unless they change hearts.”
With the focus on the image of the "narrow gate” that Jesus offers in the Gospel passage of today's liturgy (Luke 13:22-30), the pontiff asked: “if God is the Father of love and mercy, who always stands with open arms to welcome us, why does Jesus say that the gate of salvation is narrow?”
“Certainly, the Lord does not want to discourage us. Rather, his words are meant primarily to challenge the presumption of those people who think they are already saved, who perform religious acts and feel that is all that is needed.”
“The Lord,” the pope explained, “does not want worship detached from life. He is not pleased with sacrifices and prayers, unless they lead to greater love for others and justice for our brothers and sisters.”
For the Holy Father, “the challenge presented to us in today’s Gospel is worth considering. While we may sometimes be judgmental towards those distant from the faith, Jesus calls into question ‘the security of believers’.”
In fact, “Our faith is authentic when it embraces our whole life,” Leo said, “when it becomes a criterion for our decisions, when it makes us women and men committed to doing what is right and who take risks out of love, even as Jesus did.”
Jesus “did not choose the easy path of success or power; instead, in order to save us, he loved us to the point of walking through the ‘narrow gate’ of the Cross.” He is “the measure of our faith”, the “gate through which we must pass,” the one who calls upon us to experience “his love and by working, in our daily lives, to promote justice and peace.”
Indeed, “There are times when this involves making difficult and unpopular decisions, resisting our selfish inclinations, placing ourselves at the service of others, and persevering in doing what is right when the logic of evil seems to prevail, and so on.
“Once we cross that threshold, however, we will discover that life flourishes anew. From that moment on, we will enter into the immense heart of God and the joy of the eternal banquet that he has prepared for us.”
At the end of the prayer, the pope turned his thoughts to the people of Capo Delgado, Mozambique, who continue to be victims of brutal violence. For this reason, he asked the faithful “not to forget these brothers and sisters of ours” who suffer.
Citing the day of fasting and prayer for the end of conflicts celebrated on 22 August, Pope Leo mentioned how the Ukrainian Church around the world is engaged in a similar spiritual initiative today, asking for peace in their tormented country. Therefore, “Let us unite with our Ukrainian brothers,” said the pontiff.
Finally, in his greetings to the groups present, Leo mentioned the faithful from Karaganda, Kazakhstan, who are in Rome on their Jubilee pilgrimage.
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04/09/2019 20:03
