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.”
Rather we have bigger battles to wage.
None necessary my friend. We are all brothers and sisters in CHRIST.
If you’re interested in Francis of Assisi, a book I’d recommend is “St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography” by Johannes Jorgensen.
Used copies are available for only four or five dollars, including shipping, at Amazon.
1 Peter 1:13
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
A Call to Holy Living
13 Therefore prepare your minds for action;[a] discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.
:-)
Forgot these: “ “
We all need BOTH head and heart, the pastorial and the theological.
We all need BOTH head and heart, the pastorial and the theological.
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I agree.
I guess it is possible. I did some reading and learned some things from your post. I appreciate your inspiration to learn about the Prophesies.
I am just trying to understand why so many of the things that this man speaks seems to go against what I read in the Bible... for myself. I do think that he is a product of the country and the economic system in which he has lived. I do not agree with his economic opinions but I understand how he came by them.
I guess that I have questions and some seem to think that if one questions what we hear... then we are of satan. I belong to CHRIST. I believe in HIM... I trust HIM. I love HIM and HE loves me. Of this I have no doubt.
You have got that right!
What can I say:
Other than your post, blessed and humbled me...
GOD Bless you, and it was a pleasure meeting you as well!
Have you read his Jesus books? Those are an easier read than some of his other stuff.
I have one of his books, about the infancy aspect of Jesus. Do you have the names of the other two books, on the life of Jesus, their titles, I am very much is interested. Thank-you. :)
No, you prove your assertion. I can’t prove a negative. And I already know all you can do is point to Catholic teaching or writings Rome claims were Roman Catholic.
I never said we don’t show love through our actions. But showing love is not preaching the gospel. Often Rome discourages evangelization to shut up competition. That is certainly the case in Central and South America.
GOD Bless you, and it was a pleasure meeting you as well!
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Thank you!
God bless you, too.
:-)
In the end, preaching the good news of the Gospel of Jesus includes to not only preach with words, but by our very lives lived out being FAITHFUL to the Gospel of Jesus because we may be the ONLY GOSPEL there is.
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