ANGELUS TODAY
Reflecting on today's Mass readings, the Holy Father cited Jesus's brief comment on the passage from Isaiah that he was given to read at the synagogue in Nazareth, telling the congregation, "Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
The Pope said the adverb 'today' applies to all men between the first and second coming of Christ, who are within the 'today' of God's salvation made possible by Jesus.
But that it can also refer to this particular day, Sunday, which must be dedicated to the Lord in listening to his word, in prayer,
and in the celebration of the Eucharist.
More in general, 'today' is every day that man must be ready for conversion, to 'seize the day' when the Lord calls us to salvation.
In English, he said:
In today’s Gospel Jesus fulfils Isaiah’s prophecy in his own person, as he proclaims new sight to the blind and freedom to captives. In this Year of Faith, especially through the Sacraments, may we deepen our confidence in Christ and embrace his grace which sets us free. May God bless you and your loved ones!
It is a day of multiple observances, as the Pope reminded the faithful after the prayers:
Today is the Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Nazism in the Holocaust.The memory of this enormous tragedy which struck at the Jewish people, must represent for everyone a constant warning that the horrors of the past may never be repeated, that every form of hatred and racism may be overcome, and that respect for the dignity of the human being must always be promoted.
Today is also the 60th annual observance of the World Day for Lepers. I express my closeness to all those suffer from this affliction and I encourage the researchers. health care workers, and the volunteer caregivers for lepers, especially those who are part of Catholic organizations and the Association of Friends of Raoul Follereauxz.
I invoke for everyone the spiritual support of St. Damian de Veuster and St. Marianne Cope, who have their life in the service of lepers.
This Sunday also marks a special Day of Intercession for Peace in the Holy Land. I thank all those who have promoted it in all parts of the world and those of them who are present here today.
Here is a full translation of the Holy Father's reflections today:
Dear brothers and sisters,
The liturgy today presents us, joined together, two distinct passages from the Gospel of Luke. The first (1,1-14) is the prologue, addressed to one 'Theophilus'. Since this name, in Greek, means 'friend of God', we can see in him every believer who is open to God and wishes to know the Gospel.
The second passage (4,14-21) presents Jesus who "with the power of the Spirit", goes on the Sabbath to the synagogue in Nazareth.
As a good observant Jew, the Lord does not evade the weekly liturgical rhythm and joins the assembly of his townmates in prayer and to listen to Scriptures. The rite includes the reading of a text from the Torah or the Prophets, followed by a commentary.
That day, Jesus got up to do the reading and found himself reading a passage from the prophet Isaiah which begins thus: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor" (61,1-2).
Origen commented: "It was not by chance that he opened the scroll and found the chapter of the reading that prophesies about him = this was the Providence of God" (Homily on the Gospel of Luke, 32, 3).
Indeed, once Jesus had finished the reading, amid a silence that was charged with attention, said: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk 4,21).
St. Cyril of Alexandria states that the 'today' - placed between the first and ultimate coming of Jesus = is linked to the capacity of the believer to listen and to see himself anew (cfr PG 69, 1241).
But in an even more radical sense, Jesus himself is the 'today' of salvation in history, because he brings to completion the fullness of redemption. The term 'today', very dear to St. Luke (cfr 19,9; 23,43), brings us back to the Christological titled that this evangelist prefers, namely, Savior.
Already,in his infancy narrative, it comes in the words of the angel to the shepherds: "Today in the city of David is born for you a Savior, Christ the Lord" (Lk 2,11).
Dear friends, this passage also interpellates us 'today'. First, it makes us think about how we live Sundays - day of rest and day for the family, but above all, a day to dedicate to the Lord, taking part in the Eucharist, during which we are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ and by his Word of life.
In the second place, in our dispersed and distracted times, this Gospel invites us to ask ourselves about our own capacity for listening. Before we can speak of God and with God, we must listen to him first, and the liturgy of the Church is the 'school' of listening to the Lord who speaks to us.
Finally, the word 'today' tells us that every moment can be the 'today' that is propitious for our conversion. Every day (kathemeran) can become the day of salvation, because salvation is a continuing story for the Church and for every disciple of Christ.
This is the Christian sense of 'carpe diem' = to seize the day when God calls you to give you salvation!
May the Virgin Mary always be our model and our guide in learning to recognize and accept, every day of our life, the presence of God, our Savior and that of all mankind.
After the plurilingual greetings in other languages, he began his greeting to Italian pilgrims by acclaiming the youth arm of Italian Catholic Action after their annual Caravan for Peace through the streets of Rome on the last Sunday in January. Two thousand children from the parishes of Rome converged on St. Peter's Square, where a boy and a girl representing them assisted the Holy Father in releasing two doves of peace from his study window.
The children told the Pope that the funds collected by the children of Rome this year will be donated to the forgotten children of Egypt, through the Jesuit Community of Alexandria, in particular Brother Atef, who heads a theatre group for street children titled ‘Art and Life’.
Here is what the Pope said during the release of the doves:
I have a special greeting for the children and young people of Azione Cattolica Ragazzi of Rome. Welcome!
Two of you, with your diocesan officials, are here with me. Dear children, your Caravan for Peace is a beautiful testimonial. May it be a sign of your daily commitment to help build the peace wherever you live. Let us now listen to your brief message. [The message is read by one of the children with the Pope.
Thank you. Now, we shall release the doves, symbol of the Spirit of God who grants peace to all who welcome his love. Let us try to let these doves go...
There! We have succeeded... I wish you all a good Sunday and a good week. Thank you.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 28/01/2013 03:15]