Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On the Transfiguration
"The Joys Sown by God in Our Life Are Not the Destination"
H.H. Benedict XVI
February 21, 2010
www.zenit.org
Dear brothers and sisters,
Here in the Apostolic Palace yesterday we concluded the customary
retreat that is held in the Vatican at the beginning of Lent. My
coworkers in the Roman Curia and I have spent the days in
recollection and intense prayer, reflecting on the priestly vocation
in sync with the Year for Priests that the Church is celebrating. I
thank those who were near to us spiritually.
On this second Sunday of Lent the liturgy is dominated by the event
of the Transfiguration, which in St. Luke's Gospel immediately
follows the Master's invitation: "If anyone wants to follow me, he
must renounce himself, take up his cross every day and follow me!"
(Luke 9:23). This extraordinary event is an encouragement in
following Jesus.
Luke does not speak of transfiguration but describes what happened
through two elements: the countenance of Jesus that changes and his
vestments, which become dazzling white in the presence of Moses and
Elijah, symbol of the Law and the Prophets. The three disciples who
witness the scene are heavy with sleep: It is the attitude of those
who, although spectators of divine prodigies, do not understand
them. Only the struggle against the torpor that assails them allows
Peter, James and John to "see" Jesus' glory. The pace is driving: as
Moses and Elijah depart from Jesus, Peter speaks, and while he is
speaking, a cloud covers him and the other disciples with its
shadow; it is a cloud that, although it conceals also reveals God's
glory, as happened for the people of Israel on pilgrimage through
the desert. The eyes can no longer see, but the ears can hear the
voice that comes from the cloud: "This is my Son, my chosen one;
listen to him!" (Luke 9:35).
The disciples are no longer before a transfigured face, nor before a
dazzling garment, nor a cloud that reveals the divine presence.
Before their eyes there is "only Jesus" (9:36). Jesus is alone
before his Father as he prays, but at the same time, Jesus is
everything that is given to the disciples of all times: It is what
must suffice on the journey. He is the only voice to listen to, the
only one to follow, he who, going up to Jerusalem, will give his
life and one day "will transfigure our miserable body to conform it
to his glorious body" (Philippians 3:21).
"Master, it is good for us to be here" (John 9:33): These are
Peter's ecstatic words, which often resemble our desire before the
Lord's consolations. But the Transfiguration reminds us that the
joys sown by God in our life are not the destination, but they are
lights that he gives us on the earthly pilgrimage, so that "only
Jesus" is our Law and his Word the criterion that guides our
existence.
During this time of Lent I invite everyone to meditate assiduously
on the Gospel. Furthermore, I hope in this Year of the Priest that
pastors "are truly filled by the Word of God, that they know it in
truth, that they love it to the point that it really gives them life
and forms their thought" (Homily for the Chrism Mass, April 9,
2009). May the Virgin Mary help us to live with intensity our
moments of encounter with the Lord so that we can follow him every
day with joy. To her we turn our gaze, invoking upon her with the
prayer of the Angelus.
[After the Angelus the Pope greeted the pilgrims in various
languages. In Italian, he said:]
I heard with deep sadness the tragic news of the recent killings of
some Christians in the city of Mosul and I followed with much
concern the other episodes of violence, perpetrated in the martyred
land of Iraq, which have harmed defenseless persons of various
religious affiliations. In these days of intense recollection I
often prayed for all the victims of those attacks and today I would
like to join myself spiritually in prayer for peace and the
restoration of security promoted by the council of bishops at
Nineveh. I am affectionately near to the Christians communities of
the whole country. Do not weary of being a ferment for good for the
homeland to which, for centuries, you have rightfully belonged!
In the delicate political phase that Iraq is passing through I call
upon the civil authorities that they do everything possible to
restore security to the population and, especially to the most
vulnerable religious minorities. It is my wish that they do not
given in to the temptation to allow the temporary and special
interests prevail over the safety and the fundamental rights of
every citizen. Finally, as I greet the Iraqis present here in the
piazza, I exhort the international community to do its best to give
the Iraqis a future of reconciliation and justice, while I ask with
confidence from God almighty the precious gift of peace.
My thought goes out also to Chile and the populations affected by
the earthquake, which caused numerous losses of human life and much
damage. I pray for the victims and am spiritually near to the
persons tried by so grave a calamity; for them I implore from God
relief from suffering and courage in these adversities. I am certain
that they will not lack the solidarity of many, especially of
ecclesial organizations.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[In English he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present at
today's Angelus prayer, especially the group of priests from the
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, accompanied by His Eminence
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo. On this Second Sunday of Lent the voice of
our Heavenly Father instructs us to listen to Jesus, the beloved Son
of God. May our Lenten journey continue to dispose our hearts to
Christ and to his saving truth. Upon all of you I invoke Almighty
God's abundant blessings of strength and peace!
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