Pope says Christian life is not ‘magic’ but persevering in the Lord

12 April, 2013 - The disciple of Christ follows the Lord with perseverance without any triumphalism, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass on Friday. Attending the papal Mass at Mass at Domus Sanctae Marthe in the Vatican, where he has been residing since the conclave, were employees of the Vatican Publishing House (LEV), the Vatican Pharmacy and the Vatican cosmetics shop. In a brief homily on the readings, the Pope said that God saves us in time, not in a moment. Sometimes he works miracles but mostly he saves us in time, in our personal history, he said, adding, God is not a fairy with a magic wand. The Holy Father spoke about the great temptation of triumphalism that finds a home in the life of a Christian, something that even Christ’s disciples and the people of his time had. But he argued, triumphalism does not belong to the Lord who came to earth humbly. He lived for 30 years and grew up like a normal child, he had to work and was put to the cross. But He rose again. Hence the Lord teaches us that life is not all magic, and that triumphalism is not Christian. We must live for Christ each day, and what we should ask of the Lord is perseverance in following him till the end every day.