Posted on 01/06/2014 6:40:37 AM PST by thetallguy24
Pope Francis greeted tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered on a bright crisp day in St. Peter’s Square Monday for the recitation of the Angelus Prayer and to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany with the Holy Father. In his address, the Pope referred to Pope Benedict Emeritus’s book, “Jesus of Nazareth: the Infancy Narratives” which he said “magnificently” recounts the biblical coming of the Maji from the East to Bethlehem to pay homage to the Christ Child. The Epiphany, Pope Francis said, marks the first “manifestation” of Christ to the people and as a consequence, points to the universal salvation brought by Jesus. In today’s feast, we see a “dual movement,” the Pope noted: of God who comes “towards the world, towards humanity” and of men who seek closeness to God: “the religions, the search for truth, the way of people towards peace, justice, liberty.” For his part, God loves us: “we are His children; He loves us and He wants to liberate us from evil, from sickness, from death, and take us to His home in His Kingdom.” We too, the Pope said, are attracted by “goodness, truth, life and happiness and beauty.” And as the two sides attract, Jesus, the Pope stressed, is our point of encounter with the Lord as His love incarnate. Had the Maji not seen the Star pointing them to Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem, they would never have left, the Pope mused. “Light precedes us, the truth precedes us, beauty precedes us. God precedes us: it is grace; and this grace appears in Jesus. He is the Epiphany, the manifestation of God’s love.” Departing from his prepared remarks, the Pope appealed “sincerely” and “respectfully” to those who “feel far from God and from the Church” and to “those who are fearful and indifferent: the Lord is calling you too.” The Lord is calling you to be a part of His people and He does it with great respect and love.” “The Lord does not proselytize; He gives love,” reaffirmed the Pope. “And this love seeks you and waits for you, you who at this moment do not believe or are far away. And this is the love of God.” Pope Francis prayed that “all the Church” may be steeped in “the joy of evangelizing” invoking the aid of the Virgin Mary so that “we can all be disciple-missionaries, small stars that reflect His light.” Following the recital of the Angelus, Pope Francis gave greetings to the Churches of the East who tomorrow will celebrate Christmas. He prayed that all will be “reinforced in faith, hope and charity” and the Lord will “give comfort” to Christian communities and to the Churches undergoing “trial.” The Pope recalled that the Epiphany is the missionary Day for children organized by the Pontifical office for Holy Childhood and thanked young people and children whose “gestures of solidarity” towards other children “widen the horizons of their fraternity.”
While I'm a B16-lover personally, love is what brought me into the Church. The strict teachings are also a form of love in that the Church wants to help us all get into Heaven. Of course, it doesn't always appear that way to outsiders. The teachings of Jesus are hard, but to whom would we go otherwise?
The teachings of Jesus are hard, but to whom would we go otherwise?
***
Right!
In history, it isn’t unusual to see God’s messages and messengers being misunderstood by many and causing dissension.
Nice meeting you.
There are many examples of a biblical basis for this quote in the New Testament. From each of us being given different gifts as St. Paul tells us to the Good Samaritan preaching the Word of God by taking care of the man beaten by robbers. I don't remember the Good Samaritan "preaching" in that story except by his actions. Neither did St. Joseph of Amrimethea, Nicodemus nor St. John "preach" using words when taking Our Lord's body down from the cross and burying Him.
They will know we are Christians by our Love. This is the same sentiment that has been echoed over the years by Christians.
Our Lord preached without words when he was scourged, mocked and beaten for our sins.
The way the Pope speaks gives an opening to people that want to twist and pervert scripture....
Jesus was clear on scripture, he spoke in parables so only the wise would understand, and the foolish would eventually perish.
Matthew 7:13
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
You got it!
While I have respect for Pope B16 emeritus, the big setback with him was that he was too theological. Pope Francis is much more pastorial, which is much more needed right now.
Mathew 7:1-3:
1. “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2 For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3 Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s[ac] eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your neighbor,[ad] ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s[ae] eye.”
Please keep in mind.. The Pope is just a man. He is the figure head of the Catholic Religion. He has his own ideas and free will just like any other man. Let’s praise him when he gets it right and criticize when necessary. We all need to keep our politics and religion in a nuetral corner. Too many times our emotions and intial reactions get ahead of our common sense. Just because somebody is a republican doesn’t mean he is on your side. Just becuase somebody is a Pope doesn’t mean you have to go in lockstrep with all his ideas. You never even voted for this man remember?. We must keep our antennas up at all times. Especially in these times!
Romans 2:
God’s Righteous Judgment
2 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”[a] 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
2nd Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
Revelation 22:11
Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”
Plus Pope Benedict XVI emeritus was much more “head” such as the theological. Pope Francis is much more “heart”, thus the pastorial. That is why I like him.
I agree with you and I was responding using the same tactic that Biggirl had used on someone else. If you had read the thread then you should have seen it.
“To: MrEdd
Your opinion.
6 posted on Monday, January 06, 2014 8:54:39 AM by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies | Report Abuse]”
I agree that JESUS used tough love at times.
Are you saying that those of us that have been baffled by some of what the Pope has said are illegitimate in our questions and comments? Really? BTW, I think that you should apply to the Vatican for a position of Papal Interpreter. You are doing a better job than those at the Vatican have been doing.
No, she has done a better job in this thread than the Vatican has been doing. I guess you must think that I was being rhetorical... I was not.
I am beginning to think that St. Malachy was right about this current pope.
In that case, I agree with you about possible Vatican employment of Biggirl. :-)
Please accept my apology.
Maybe you’re right about the times we’re in.
I don’t know if we’re in the end times and I, not to be flippant but only to be honest, don’t care.
My end time will come, undoubtably, sometime, and Christ’s Gospel is to be lived the same, good times or bad.
It is important to some people to know whether or not these are the last times, and I don’t judge that. We’re all called in different, individual ways.
“Where are the Preachers today that are on fire for the LORD?”
Maybe they are you and me?
:-)
Nice meeting you.
I agree.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.