|
Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On the Role of Angels
"Let Us Call Upon Them Often"
H.H. Benedict XVI
March 1, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Today is the First Sunday of Lent, and the Gospel, with the sober
and concise style of St. Mark, introduces us to the climate of this
liturgical season: "The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and
he remained in the desert for 40 days, tempted by Satan" (Mark
1:12). In the Holy Land, west of the Jordan and the oasis of
Jericho, there is the desert of Judah, which ascends to a height of
over 1,000 meters through rocky valleys, stretching all the way to
Jerusalem.
After having received baptism from John, Jesus enters that empty
place, led by the Holy Spirit himself, which had descended upon him,
consecrating him and revealing him as the Son of God. In the desert,
the place of trial -- as the experience of the people of Israel
shows -- there appears the dramatic reality of the "kenosis," the
emptying of Christ, who is stripped of the form of God (cf.
Philippians 2:6-7). He, who did not sin and cannot sin, submits
himself to trial and thus can have compassion for our infirmities
(cf. Hebrews 4:15). He lets himself be tempted by Satan, the
adversary, who had opposed himself to God's salvific plan for men
from the very beginning.
In the brevity of the account, in the face of this obscure and
darksome figure who dares to tempt the Lord, the angels, luminous
and mysterious figures, fleetingly appear. The Gospel says that the
angels "serve" Jesus (Mark 1:13); they are the counterpoint to
Satan. "Angel" means "one who is sent." We find these figures
throughout the Old Testament who help and guide men in the name of
God. Just consider the Book of Tobit, in which the figure of the
angel Raphael appears to assist the protagonist through many
vicissitudes. The reassuring presence of the angel of the Lord
accompanies the people of Israel through every event, good and bad.
On the threshold of the New Testament, Gabriel is sent to announce
to Zachariah and Mary the joyous happenings that are the beginnings
of our salvation; and an angel, whose name is not mentioned, warns
Joseph, directing him in that moment of uncertainty. A chorus of
angels reports the glad tidings of Jesus' birth to the shepherds, as
the glad tidings of his resurrection will also be announced by
angels to the women. At the end of time the angels will accompany
Jesus in his glorious return (cf. Matthew 25:31).
The angels serve Jesus, who is certainly superior to them, and this
dignity of his is proclaimed in a clear though discreet way here in
the Gospel. Indeed, even in the situation of extreme poverty and
humility, when he is tempted by Satan, he remains the Son of God,
the Messiah, the Lord.
Dear brothers and sisters, we would take away a significant part of
the Gospel if we left aside these beings sent by God to announce his
presence among us and be a sign of that presence. Let us call upon
them often, that they sustain us in the task of following Jesus to
the point of identifying ourselves with him. Let us ask them,
especially today, to watch over me and my co-workers in the Roman
Curia as we begin our retreat this week, as we do every year. Mary,
Queen of Angels, pray for us!
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[The Holy Father then greeted the people in several languages. In
English, he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present at
today's Angelus prayer. On this First Sunday of Lent, the Gospel of
Saint Mark speaks of Jesus being lead into the desert by the Holy
Spirit, tempted by Satan and assisted by the angels. Let us pray
that our Lenten journey will strengthen us in the struggle against
all forms of temptation. Upon all of you I invoke God's abundant
blessings, and I wish you a pleasant Sunday and a happy stay in
Rome!
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Look
at the One they Pierced!
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
