Faith is a journey with Jesus: Pope tells Catechumens

Vatican City, 23 Nov 2013: At the culmination of the Year of Faith, you are gathered here, for your own journey of faith. You come from many different countries, from different cultural traditions and experiences, and yet, tonight we feel we have many things in common among us - above all, we have one: the desire for God, said Pope Francis on Saturday evening during his homily addressed to about 500 catechumens who came to the Vatican to be admitted to the catechumenate. They came from 47 different countries and five continents: in particular, Russia, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, China, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Cuba. The event is part of the Year of Faith and has as its theme "Ready to pass through the gate of faith".

Pope Francis highlighted the importance of keeping alive the desire for God. If we lose the thirst for the living God, said the Pope, our faith is likely to become habitual, likely to go off like a fire that will not be revived.

Reflecting on the story of the Gospel where John the Baptist shows Jesus to his disciples as the Lamb of God, the Pope said, there are three moments in the story that evoke the experience of the catechumenate. First, there is the listening. The two disciples heard the testimony of John the Baptist. In the tumult of many voices, you have heard and received the word, Pope told the catechumens.

The second moment is the encounter, said the Pope. The two disciples meet the Master and remain with him after meeting him. They immediately notice something new in their hearts - the need to convey their joy to others. Andrea, in fact, met his brother Simon and leads him to Jesus!
It reminds us that God did not create us to be alone, locked in ourselves, but in order to meet him and to open ourselves to the encounter with the other. God first comes to each of us, said the Pope, and this is wonderful!
But God has the patience to wait for a favorable moment of the encounter with each of us. God wants to stay with us long to sustain us, to console us, to give us his joy. He, too, we may say, is thirsting for us, to meet us.

The last part of the story is to walk, explained Pope Francis. The two disciples walking toward Jesus and then do a stretch of road together with Him. Faith is a journey with Jesus ... and that lasts a lifetime. Faith gives us the certainty of the constant presence of Jesus in every situation, even the most painful or difficult situation. We are called to walk to get more into the mystery of the love of God above us and enables us to live with peace and hope.

Pope expressed the hope that the catechumens who began their journey will continue with joy, with the support of the whole Church. The Pontiff invited them to keep the enthusiasm of the first moment when opened their eyes to the light of faith - the first time they have been with Jesus. Source: VR Sedoc