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On Saturday, December 1 in the morning, the Pope received pilgrims from the dioceses of Ugento and Molfetta, in central Italy. The pilgrims came to visit the Pope in thanks for the visit made by the Holy Father last April to the memory of Dom Tonino Bello
Jane Nogara – Vatican
"A privacy without risks and full of fears, they are not a Christian life.We are not made to sleep quietly, but to make bold dreams, "warned the pope to meet the pilgrims from inside Italy.
The Pope began the meeting by recalling the relevance of Dom Tonino's message when he said: "Please, do not be sad for any bitterness. Do not grieve your lives." He who believes in Jesus can not be sad; because "the opposite of a Christian people is a sad people". Let's follow the thought of Don Tonino, said the Pope:
"Let's not be sad: if we do so, we will carry the treasure of God's joy into the poverty of man." In fact, those who are saddened are alone and see only problems, on the contrary, whoever puts the Lord before his problems finds joy, so let's stop mourning and, instead of grieving, let's start. to do the opposite: comforting and helping "
Advent brings news
Speaking of Advent which begins this Sunday, he says that the new liturgical year the novelty of our God, who is the God of all consolations. If we look inside ourselves, we see that all the news that arrives is not enough to satisfy our expectations: "We want new things because we are born for great things," wrote Don Tonino, and it is true that we are born to be with the Lord when He enters. "
But the pope warns:
" We should not live in expectation, which may not come true, but we have to live in expectation, that is, to say desire the Lord who always brings novelty. It is important to know how to wait and always expect to be active in love. "
The real sadness is that we do not expect anything else, said Father Tonino.The Christians are called to protect and spread the joy of waiting: we are waiting for God who loves us infinitely and at the same time, he is waiting for us.Being so, it looks like a court.We are not alone, God visits us and expects to be with us forever. "
Anti-Fear Gospel
The Pope also reminded pilgrims of some of Dom Tonino's words spoken 30 years ago that seem to have been written today:" Life is Fear of the other … Fear of violence … Afraid of not being able, Fear of not being accepted … Afraid that it is useless to strive … Fear that the world does not change … Fear of
"Advent responds with an" anti-fear gospel "because the one who is afraid and is defeated is reanimated by the Lord with his word, and he the fact with two verbs. anti-fear, the two verbs of Advent: lift up and raise your head "
If fear displeases you, the Lord asks you to revive, if negativity leads you to lower your eyes, Jesus invite you to look at the heavens from where he will come, for we are not children of fear
Then he invited all participants to broaden their horizons to reflect on the meaning of life:
" You can not always stay in the safe harbor, "we are called to leave.The Lord calls each of us to enter the open sea. He does not want us anchored in the harbor or lighthouse keepers, but confident navigators and brave, who follow new ways of the Lord, casting the nets of life on his Word "
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