Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
God carries our names in his heart, explains Pope

God carries our names in his heart, explains Pope

Last updated on: November 10, 2013 at 9:40 pm by CNA Daily News

God carries our names in his heart, explains Pope 2013-11-10T21:40:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Nov 10, 2013 / 02:40 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis’ Sunday Angelus message emphasized the unique concern God has for every human person.

“The name of God is linked to the names of men and women with whom he unites himself, and this bond is stronger than death,” the Pope told crowds in St. Peter’s Square on Nov. 10.

“And so we can say that (about) the relationship of God with us, with every one us. He is the God of each of us, as he carries within himself our name.”

The Pope reflected on the Gospel story in which Jesus encounters the Pharisees who try to trick him into disproving the resurrection of the dead. They ask him about a woman who was married seven times as one after another of her husbands died. “In heaven, whose wife will she be?” the Sadducees demand.

“Jesus, always gentle and patient, at first responds that the life after death does not have the same parameters of this earth,” recounted the Pontiff.

“Eternal life is another life in another dimension where, among other things, there will no longer be marriage that is related to our existence in this world.”

“But then Jesus, so to speak, turns to the counter-attack,” continued the Pope. “And he cites Sacred Scripture to them, with a simplicity and an originality that leaves us full of admiration for our Teacher, the only Teacher!”

It is in the episode of Moses and the burning bush that Jesus finds proof of the resurrection. There “God reveals himself as the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob.”

By naming the people with whom he has made a covenant, God shows that he is not “the God of the dead, but of the living, because everyone lives for him.”

“And this decisive bond, the fundamental covenant is that with Jesus: He himself is the Covenant, He himself is the Life and the Resurrection, because with his cross he has overcome death,” underscored Pope Francis.

The Pontiff went on to explain that the bond between Jesus and the individual Christian is different than earthly bonds like marriage because it is eternal, as God himself is eternal.

“In fact, if God is faithful and loving, there can’t be a temporal limit. Faithfulness is eternal: it can’t change. The love of God is eternal: it can’t change. He isn’t limited by time, he is forever…He is faithful forever, according to his time, which is eternity,” insisted the Holy Father.

“The life that God prepares for us isn’t simply an embellishment of this present one: it is beyond our imagination because God continually surprises us with his love and with his mercy.”

“Therefore, what will happen is exactly the opposite of what the Sadducees expected. It is not that this life acts as a reference to eternity, but it is eternity that enlightens and gives hope to the earthly lives of each of us!” he exclaimed.

“But already on this earth, in prayer, in the Sacraments, in brotherhood, we meet Jesus and his love and in this we can have a foretaste of risen life.”

The crowds clapped as Pope Francis enthused, “The fullness of life! We are on the way and in pilgrimage towards that fullness of life, and that full life is that which illuminates our way!”

After leading crowds in the Angelus prayer, the Pontiff greeted various pilgrim groups who had come to Rome, as well as taking a moment of prayer for victims of the typhoon that hit the Philippines on Friday.

The Pope also recalled the “Night of broken glass,” on Nov. 9-10, 1938, in which Jews were persecuted.

“We renew our closeness and solidarity to the Jewish people and we pray to God that the memory of the past help us to be ever vigilant against all forms of hatred and intolerance,” he said.

The Pope concluded the audience by wishing everyone a good Sunday and a “good lunch.”

Vatican

Previous Post

November 10, 2013

Pope expresses solidarity with victims of Philippines typhoon

Next Post

November 10, 2013 Iranian prison transfer endangers pastor's life, supporters warn

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which religious tradition sees the Genesis flood story as parallel to the Epic of Gilgamesh?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Ancient Mesopotamian religion Hinduism Greek mythology Zoroastrianism