Angelus: contemplation does not turn into spiritual laziness

On the second Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis reflected, before praying to the Angelus, on the Gospel of the day (Mk 9, 2-10) which invites us to contemplate the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. This “anticipation of the light”, the radiant face of Jesus before the frightened disciples, to whom he had announced that he would suffer greatly, would be rejected and condemned to death, is an invitation to remember us, especially when we are going through a difficult trial, that the Lord has risen and does not allow darkness to have the last word.

Darkness doesn’t have the last word

The Pope focused, first of all, on the feelings of the disciples after the announcement of Jesus:

One can imagine what must have happened in the hearts of his friends, of those close friends, of his disciples: the image of a strong and triumphant Messiah goes into crisis, their dreams are shattered and anguish assails them when they think the Master in the who they think would be executed as the worst evildoer. And precisely at this moment, with this anguish in his soul, Jesus calls Peter, James and John and takes them with him to the mountain.

By positioning ourselves on the place of transfiguration, the mountain, this place “high, where heaven and earth touch”, and where Moses and the prophets “lived the extraordinary experience of meeting God”, the Holy -Father emphasized that the episode of the transfiguration offers frightened disciples “the light of hope”, “the light to pierce the darkness”, because he anticipates that “death will not be the end of everything, because it will open to the glory of the Resurrection “. “To live this ‘anticipation’ of the light in the heart of Lent,” said Francis, is “an invitation to remind ourselves, especially when we are going through a difficult trial, that the Lord has risen and does not allow darkness to have control. last word. “

The light of the Risen One

After focusing on the feelings of the disciples, he situates the Gospel of the day in the feelings of the faithful: we too sometimes go through “moments of darkness in our personal, family or social life, and we fear that” there is no way out. “” We are afraid of great puzzles such as sickness, innocent pain or the mystery of death. “Even” on the very path of faith, we often stumble when we encounter the scandal of the cross and the demands of the Gospel, which asks us to spend our life in service and to lose it in love, instead of keeping and defending it ”.

We therefore need another look, a light that illuminates in depth the mystery of life and helps us to go beyond our patterns and the criteria of this world.

Beware of “spiritual laziness”

Remember that “we too are called to climb the mountain, to contemplate the beauty of the Risen One who lights flashes of light in every fragment of our life and helps us to interpret history since his paschal victory, Pope Francis has warned that, however, we must “be careful” that this feeling of “it is good to be here”, as Peter exclaims (v.5), does not turn into “spiritual laziness” . Well, as he did with the disciples, Jesus himself “brings us back to the valley”:

We cannot stay in the mountains and enjoy the joy of this meeting alone. Jesus himself brings us back to the valley, to our brothers and sisters and to our daily life. We must beware of spiritual laziness: we are doing well, with our prayers and our liturgies, and that is enough for us. Do not! Climbing the mountain is not forgetting reality; praying never escapes the difficulties of life; the light of faith is not for a beautiful spiritual emotion. No, that is not Jesus’ message.

Illuminated by the light of Christ, take it everywhere

In short, “we are called to live the encounter with Christ so that, illuminated by his light, we can carry it and make it shine everywhere”, because It is the mission of the Christian “To light little lights in people’s hearts; to be little lamps of the Gospel which carry a little love and hope ”.

Fast gossip

After the Marian prayer, the Supreme Pontiff joined his voice to that of the bishops of Nigeria, for condemn the kidnapping of 317 girls at a school last Friday and called for prayers for them to return home soon. In addition, he recalled that today is the World Rare Disease Day, and stressed that the network of solidarity between family members, encouraged by associations working in this area, “is more important than ever”. Finally, greeting all the faithful and pilgrims, he wished everyone a good Lent journey, and recommended a very special fast, which “will not make you suffer from hunger”:

I recommend a fast, a fast that will not starve you: rapid gossip and backbiting. It’s a special way. In this Lent, I will not speak ill of others, I will not gossip … And we can all do that, all of us. It’s a good fast. And don’t forget that it will also be useful for you to read a passage of the Gospel every day, to carry the little Gospel in your pocket, in your bag, and to take it whenever possible, any passage. . It opens the heart to the Lord.