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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On God's Gift of His Time
"A Gift That Man Can Appreciate or Squander"
H.H. Benedict XVI
November 30, 2008
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Today, with the First Sunday of Advent, we begin a new liturgical
year. This fact invites us to reflect on the dimension of time,
which has always greatly fascinated us. Following the example of
what Jesus liked to do, I would like to start from a very concrete
experience: We all say "I don't have time" because the rhythm of
daily life has become too frenetic for everyone. The Church has
"good news" to announce about this too: God gives us his time. We
always have little time. Especially in regard to the Lord, we do not
know how to find him, or, sometimes, we do not want to find him. And
yet God has time for us!
This is the first thing that the beginning of a liturgical year
makes us rediscover with an ever new wonder. Yes: God gives us his
time, because he has entered into history, with his Word and his
works of salvation, to open it to eternity, to make it into a
covenant history. From this perspective time is already, in itself,
a basic sign of God's love. It is a gift that man can, like
everything else, appreciate or, on the contrary, squander; he can
grasp its meaning, or neglect it with obtuse superficiality.
There are three great "hinges" of time that span salvation history:
At the beginning is creation, at the center the
Incarnation-redemption and at the end the "parousia," the final
coming that also includes the universal judgment. These three
moments, however, are not to be understood simply in chronological
succession. In fact, while it is true that creation is at the
beginning of everything, it also continues and is realized along the
whole arc of cosmic becoming to the very end of time. So also with
the Incarnation-redemption, if it occurred at a determinate
historical moment -- Jesus' sojourn on the earth -- nevertheless,
its effect extends over the time that preceded it and all of the
time that follows it. And the Final Coming and the Last Judgment,
which precisely on Christ's cross were decisively anticipated,
exercise their influence on the conduct of men of every age.
The liturgical season of Advent celebrates God's coming in its two
moments: First it invites us to awaken the expectation of Christ's
glorious return; then, nearing Christmas, it calls us to welcome the
Word made man for our salvation. But the Lord comes constantly into
our lives. How opportune, then, is Jesus' call, which is more
powerfully proposed than ever this Sunday: "Be vigilant!" (Mark
13:33, 35, 37). It is addressed to the disciples, but also to
"everyone," because everyone, at the hour that God alone knows, will
be called to give an account of his own life. This entails a proper
detachment from worldly goods, a sincere repentance for one's
errors, an active charity toward one's neighbor and above all a
humble and confident placing of oneself into God's hands, our tender
and merciful Father.
The Virgin Mary is the icon of Advent. Let us call upon her to help
us to become an extension of humanity for the Lord who comes.
[After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father said in Italian:]
November 30 is the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle, brother of Simon
Peter. Both had been followers of John the Baptist and, after Jesus'
baptism in the Jordan, they became his disciples, recognizing him as
the Messiah. St. Andrew is the patron of the Patriarchate of
Constantinople and so the Church of Rome feels linked to the Church
of Constantinople by a special fraternal bond. For this reason,
following the tradition, on this felicitous occasion a delegation
from the Holy See, led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, has embarked on a
visit to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. With all my heart,
I offer my greeting and my best wishes to him and to the faithful of
the patriarchate, invoking the abundance of heavenly blessings upon
all.
I would like to invite you to join in prayer for the numerous people
killed, wounded or in any way harmed in the brutal terrorist attacks
in Mumbai, India, and the fighting that has broken out in Jos,
Nigeria. The causes and the circumstances of these tragic events are
different but the horror and the disapproval of the explosion of
such cruel and senseless violence must be the same. Let us ask the
Lord to touch the hearts of those who falsely believe that this is
the way to resolve local or international problems and let us all
feel encouraged to offer an example of meekness and love to build a
society worthy of God and man.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[Then, the Pope greeted the crowds in several languages. In English,
the Holy Father said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors
present for this Angelus prayer. I offer a special welcome to the
participants in the Youth Meeting at the European University of
Rome. Today, the First Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new
liturgical year. The Gospel invites to be prepared as faithful
servants for the coming of Christ. May Advent be a time of
preparation that leads us to a life centred on our Christian hope.
May God bless you all!
© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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