Pope says the Lord keeps the door of hope, consolation always open

December 10, 2013 - When Jesus approaches us, He always keep the door of hope and consolation open to us. This was the heart of the homily of Pope Francis at Mass Tuesday morning in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican. Taking his cue from the Book of Isaiah: “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God,” the Pope explained that this ‘work of consolation’ is so strong that it recreates everything. That is why the Church never tires insisting on this marvelous recreation of God when He visits us with His consolation. And when He approaches he brings us peace, with which He recreates. He does so by opening the door of hope, which is a true strength, grace and gif of Christian life. When a Christian forgets or worse still, loses hope, life no longer has any meaning. But the Lord consoles and recreates us with hope and helps us to move forward. This the Lord does with great tenderness, like the Good Shepherd. The Pope said that consoling and giving hope was the main task of Jesus during the 40 days between His resurrection and Ascension. He recalled His tenderness in dealing with his disciples, Mary Magdalene, the disciples of Emmaus and the doubting Thomas. The Pope thus urged all to ask for the grace not to be open to the Lord without fearing His consolation which brings us hope and His tenderness.