Pope stresses on contemplation and action

March 17, 2014 - Pope Francis on Sunday urged Christians to read "a small passage from the Gospel every day" and then offer it to those they meet. The Pope gave the advice before reciting his weekly midday “Angelus” prayer with thousands of faithful in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square. Speaking from the window of his apartment overlooking the square, the Pope drew attention to the words of the Father at the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor – “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” “It's not the Pope who is saying it, God says it. We, the disciples of Jesus, are called to be people who listen to his voice and take his words seriously," the Pope said explaining the Gospel of the Second Sunday of Lent.

The Word of God grows both in the one who gives and with whom it is shared, the Pope said, asking the crowd, “Do you read a passage from the Gospel every day?” He said is good to have a pocket sized Gospel that you can carry with you and read a small passage at any given time of the day, where Jesus speaks to us. Reflecting on the Transfiguration episode, the Pope focussed on two aspects - ascent and descent. He said we need to take time out, to climb the mountain in a space of silence, to find ourselves and better hear the voice of the Lord. But then, our encounter with God in prayer propels us back down to the plain, where we meet many brothers and sisters weighed down by fatigue, injustice, ignorance, material and spiritual poverty. We are called to bear the fruits of our experience with God to these our brothers and sister who are in trouble, sharing with them the treasures of the grace received". Highlighting how Jesus did not have a “chair” or a “stationary pulpit” to teach from, but rather “brought his teachings, the teachings given to him by the Father, through the streets,” the pontiff observed that we are also able to listen to Jesus in the Gospels.
After the Marian prayer, Pope Francis greeted various groups present in the square. He particularly commended the Pope John XXIII Community, founded by Don Oreste Benzi, who will hold a special Way of the Cross meditations through the streets of Rome next Friday for women victims of trafficking. The Pope also called for a moment of silent prayer for the passengers of the Malaysian airliner gone missing and thier families. “We are close to them at this time," the Pope added.