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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus
Message
Get Your "Passport" Ready for Heaven
Stamp It With Works That Show Friendship With Christ
H.H. Benedict XVI
August 26, 2007
www.zenit.org
VATICAN CITY, AUG. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Heaven is an
equal-opportunity destination, but to gain entry one needs a
"passport" stamped with virtues such as humility, mercy and truth,
says Benedict XVI.
The Pope said this today in a reflection he gave on the "narrow
gate," before reciting the midday Angelus with several thousand
people gathered in the courtyard of the papal summer residence at
Castel Gandolfo.
The Pontiff asked: "What is meant by this 'narrow gate'? Why is it
that many people do not succeed in entering through it? Is it
perhaps a passage that is reserved only for a few elect?"
The Holy Father said that the message of Christ is that everybody
has an equal chance of entering through the narrow gate, "but it is
'narrow' because it is demanding, it requires commitment,
self-denial and mortification of one's own egoism."
Christ invites all to heaven, he said, "but with one and the same
condition: that of making the effort to follow him and imitate him,
taking up one's cross, as he did, and dedicating one's life to the
service of our brothers."
Benedict XVI makes the point that "we will not be judged on the
basis of presumed privileges, but by our works."
"True friendship with Christ," he added, "is expressed by one's way
of life: it is expressed by goodness of heart, with humility,
meekness and mercy, love of justice and truth, sincere and honest
commitment to peace and reconciliation."
The Pope adds, "This, we might say, is the 'I.D. card' that
qualifies us as authentic 'friends'; this is the 'passport' that
permits us to enter into eternal life."
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