At the Angelus Prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis reflects on the identity of Jesus and urges Christians to welcome his light to open our hearts to the love of God.
By Devin Watkins
As the Church celebrates Laetare Sunday, Pope Francis has invited Christians to come to the light of Christ and ask for forgiveness.
Speaking before Angelus’ Marian prayer for lunch, the Pope considered why the fourth Sunday of Lent has such a joyful concentration.
The reason, he said, is given in the gospel: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). .
“This joyful message is the heart of the Christian faith,” the Pope said, “God’s love has found its apogee in the gift of his Son for a weak and sinful humanity.”
Left up
In the Gospel of the day, Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night to question His identity.
Jesus, the Pope said, shakes Nicodemus’ faith by presenting Himself in three ways: ” Son of man raised on the cross; The son of God sent into the world for salvation; and that of easy which distinguishes those who follow the truth from those who follow lies. ”
The first aspect of Jesus’ identity, the Pope said, is the snake that Moses raised in the wilderness to save people from death because of snake bites.
Similarly, he remarked, “Jesus was lifted up on the cross, and those who believe in Him are healed of sin and live.”
To bring the light of salvation
Pope Francis said that the second aspect – that of the Son of God – highlights God’s gift for His only Son for the salvation of mankind. God, he added, wants our eternal salvation, and Jesus’ mission is one of salvation for all.
Jesus also describes Himself to Nicodemus as “light,” which is the opposite of darkness.
“The coming of Jesus into the world leads to a choice,” the pope said. “Whoever chooses darkness will face a judgment of condemnation, whoever chooses light will have a judgment of salvation.”
Judgment, he remarked, is the result of our own free choice. “Every one that practices evil seeks darkness; whoever seeks the truth, that is, who practices good, comes to light.
Enjoying God’s forgiveness
Pope Francis then urged Christians to live the journey of our fast as if in the direction of the light of Christ.
We are called, he said, to “receive the light in our conscience to open our hearts to the infinite love of God, to His mercy full of tenderness and goodness.”
God, he concluded, always forgives our sins when we ask Him.
Under the protection of the Mother of God
And the Pope prayed that the Virgin Mary would give us the courage to allow Jesus to “throw our faith into crisis.”
“It is a healthy crisis,” he said, “for our healing: for our joy to be full.”