Pope’s Angelus: “Jesus is the Epiphany”, the Lord does not proselytize but loves
(Vatican Radio) 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.
Listen to Tracey
McClure's report on what the Holy Father had to say at the Angelus and in his Homily
at the morning mass on the Feast of the Epiphany:
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 Magi
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 Magi 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.”