Praying for our persecutors part of Christian witness, says Pope
“We are all called to love unconditionally, as today’s Gospel reminds us, and to place
ourselves generously at the service of our neighbour”, said Pope Benedict Sunday.
In his greeting to thousands of pilgrims and visitors to St Peter’s square for the
Angelus prayer the Holy Father said “when we suffer for evil, persecution, injustice,
let us avoid revenge, vengeance and hatred, and pray for our persecutors. Overcome
evil with good. We entrust all adversity to God to achieve freedom and peace of mind”.
Pope
Benedict dedicated his reflections before the Angelus prayer this week to the Sunday
readings and Gospel. The "perfection" to which Jesus invites us to "live as children
of God is actually doing his will" and Jesus himself tells us: "Love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is
in heaven "(Mt 5.44 to 45). Whoever receives the Lord into their lives and loves him
with all his heart is capable of a new beginning. He manages to carry out the will
of God: to create a new form of life inspired by love and destined to eternity".
He
said “The apostle Paul adds: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and
that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor 3:16). If we are really aware of this
reality, and our lives are deeply molded by it, then our witness is clear, eloquent
and effective. "
The Holy Father also looked ahead to Tuesday next, February
22nd, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter: “To him, the first of the apostles,
Christ himself entrusted the task of teacher and pastor for the spiritual guidance
of the People of God, so that they may rise up to Heaven. I therefore urge all pastors
to " assimilate that “new style of life” which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and
taken up by the Apostles " (Letter Proclaiming Year for Priests)”.
Finally
in greetings to English speaking pilgrims he noted “In particular I greet the young
singers from the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School in London. The Cardinal’s motto,
“Amare et Servire”, is a beautiful expression of the Christian way of life”.Listen: