Pope Francis: Let yourselves be ‘flooded by the love of God’

Last updated on: January 12, 2014 at 7:28 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis: Let yourselves be ‘flooded by the love of God’ 2014-01-12T19:28:00+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, Jan 12, 2014 / 12:28 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- During his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis emphasized the need for Christians to allow God to work powerfully in their lives.

When Jesus was baptized, the heavens were opened, but this “is also possible for every one of us, if we let ourselves be flooded by the love of God that comes to us given by the Holy Spirit for the first time at baptism,” encouraged Pope Francis on Jan. 12 from the window of the Apostolic palace.

“If the heavens remain closed, our horizon in this earthly life is dark, without hope,” but when we celebrate Christmas, we are again offered “the certainty that the heavens are rent with the coming of Jesus,” he explained.

We contemplate the same hope in meditating on the Baptism of Jesus as the Church does today. Moreover, “every child that comes to be baptized is a miracle of faith and a celebration for the family of God.”

“The manifestation of the Son of God on the earth signals the beginning of a great time of mercy,” he stressed, repeating “a great time of mercy!” for emphasis.

“God gives us in Christ the guarantee of an indestructible love,” he assured the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Jesus “was without sin and did not have need of conversion” yet “received the baptism of repentance from John” in order to be in solidarity with mankind.

Christ “shared in our condition, our poverty” – this sharing is the “true way of love,” noted the Pope.

“Jesus didn’t disassociate himself from us, he considered us brothers and shared in our life. And so he made us sons, together with Himself, of God the Father,” the Pontiff continued.

He then asked, “Do we not feel that our time might need some extra brotherly sharing and love? Do we not feel that we all might need some extra charity?”

“Not the kind that is content with extemporaneous help that doesn’t involve oneself, doesn’t put itself in play, but that charity that shares, that takes care of the discomfort and the suffering of a brother.”

Such a love “procures life, when it allows us to be flooded with the love of God!” he exclaimed.

“Let us ask the Holy Virgin to sustain us with her intercession in our duty to follow Christ on the way of faith and charity, the way marked by our Baptism,” he concluded.

After leading the Angelus prayer, the Pope took a moment to greet the many pilgrims who had arrived, “in particular, the families and faithful who came from various parishes of Italy and from other countries.”

He then made an unexpected announcement of the list of 19 Cardinals from around the world to be appointed in February before concluding with a wish for everyone to “have a good lunch.”

Vatican

Previous Post

January 12, 2014

'Hand on the faith,' Pope instructs parents at baptism

Next Post

January 13, 2014 God has a 'handmade' love for everyone, says Pope

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

True or False: 1 John teaches that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE