Rome (Monday, June 26, 2017, Gaudium Press) In his Angelus address today, to pilgrims in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis urged Christians not to be afraid to proclaim the Gospel message. Although they might experience failure and even persecutions, Christians always live in the knowledge that Lord will always be with them.
Reflecting on the liturgical reading of the day in which Jesus said to his disciples “Fear no one” but instructed them and prepared them to face the trials and persecutions the would suffer, the Pope said: “Jesus’ mission did not guarantee the disciples success, nor did it shield them from failure or suffering…. this is a bit scary, but it is the truth.”
In fact, he explained, the disciple is called to conform his life to Christ, who was persecuted, rejected and abandoned to die on the cross.
“There is no Christian mission in the name of tranquility, the Pope said, difficulties and tribulations are part of evangelization” he said.
The Pope also explained that challenges are occasions in which “to verify the authenticity of our faith and of our relationship with Jesus” always within the knowledge that “God does not abandon his children during the storm.”
“In the difficulties of Christian witness in the world, we are never forgotten, but always assisted by the Father’s thoughtful solicitude” he said.
Pope Francis pointed out that at the present time, persecution against Christians still exists. “Let us pray for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted and praise the Lord because, in spite of this, they continue to witness their faith with courage and fidelity” he said.
Another test of faith, Francis continued, may even be the absence of hostility and tribulation.
“In addition to being ‘sheep in the midst of wolves’, the Lord also sends us forth as sentinels in the midst of people who do not want to be awakened from a worldly numbness, who ignore the truth of the Gospel message and build their own ephemeral truth” he said.
Hence, Pope Francis concluded, always heed Jesus’ encouragement not to fear those who mock and abuse, or those who ignore or appear to honour the Gospel but in reality go against it.
“Jesus does not leave us alone because we are precious to Him” he said.
After the Angelus, Pope Francis prayed for the victims of a landslide in southwestern China, he greeted the Lithuanian people who today celebrate the Blessed Theofilius Matulonius – the first Soviet-era person from Lithuania to be beatified, and he remembered the Greek-Catholic Ukrainian Church who are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the canonization of St Josaphat.
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