"...security of a Presence, the Presence of Jesus..." Pope Francis

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In yesterday’s Angelus Address, commenting on the Gospel, the Pope stressed the importance of faith:

“Faith … gives us the security of a Presence, the Presence of Jesus, who pushes us to surpass the existential storms, the certainty of a hand that grips us to help us face the difficulties, pointing out the way also when it’s dark.”

…Today’s Gospel, he said, reminds us that faith in the Lord and in His word doesn’t open a way where everything is easy and tranquil and doesn’t take us from life’s storms, but gives us the way to get through them.

While recognizing that faith is not an easy way out of life’s problems, the Holy Father stressed that it “supports us on our journey and gives it meaning.”

Francis invited all pilgrims to turn to that which offers full certainty: faith in Jesus.

For full article see HERE

 

[dallas_r]

Thank you for sharing.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thank you for sharing.

You are always welcome, dallas, to anything I find that is good.

The Pope’s emphasis on faith is so important in these days of confusion both inside and outside the Church. We need to reaffirm what God has revealed to us in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church. It is important to listen and discern by the power of the Holy Spirit, whether we are paying more attention to the Holy Spirit Whom Jesus promised would bring us into all Truth, of if we are listening to the “spirit of the world.”

Pope Francis points us to Jesus, the Word Made Flesh, and if we remember last Sunday’s Gospel and the Transfiguration scene, we heard God the Father tell us: “This is my Beloved Son. Listen to Him”. We need to test the spirits as St. John tells us in his First Letter:

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God,and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world. You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit. (1 John 4:1-6)

Pope Francis has spoken many times to the Church, warning us not to become “worldly.” We are in the world but must “not be of” the world. If we want to remain close to Jesus we need to take time to listen to Him and believe in Him Who is our Way, our Truth, and our Life in this world as we journey toward our eternal Home in heaven.

Mary, whose Feast-Day we celebrate today awaits us in heaven. Mary lived by faith, and is called Mother of our Faith. She kept all Jesus said and did in her heart and pondered. St. Luke tells us in his Gospel account when Jesus was lost and Mary and Joseph found Him in the Temple, they did not understand the words He spoke to them but Mary kept all in her heart pondering His words. So must we.

Mary Mother and Model of the Church, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You!
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful; kindle in us the fire of Your Love.