杏MAP导航 urges us to learn to do now what we will do in heaven: Adore!
By Sr. Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp
In his daily homily at Casa Santa Marta, 杏MAP导航 Francis began by reflecting on the first reading of the day, taken from the first book of Kings. The passage recounts how all the tribes of Israel came to King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the Ark of the LORD's Covenant to the temple. 杏MAP导航 Francis noted how they were making an uphill journey, carrying with them the two stone tablets that God had given to Moses on Mount Horeb.
He went on to reflect on our Christian journey, which, he said, is an upward climb, it is not always easy. The people of Israel, undertaking this uphill journey, are carrying the Ark of the Covenant to its resting place, and they bear a memory, 鈥渢he memory of election鈥�. In addition, the 杏MAP导航 said, the Ark of the Covenant was stripped of any ornamentation. It was stripped down to the tablets of the law: 鈥淚n the ark, in fact, there was nothing except two stone tablets.鈥�
Teach people to adore
As soon as the priests carrying the ark left the sanctuary, the glory of the Lord filled the temple with a cloud. 鈥淔rom the sacrifices that they made while they were on the uphill journey, to the silence of humiliation and adoration,鈥� the pope reflected. 杏MAP导航 Francis asked pastors to teach the prayer of adoration which 鈥渕any times, I think, that we do not teach to our people.鈥�
鈥淲e know how to teach them how to pray, sing, and praise God, but to adore?鈥� The pope defined adoration as the prayer 鈥渨hich annihilates us without annihilating us.鈥� He took the opportunity of encouraging the newly installed pastors, present in the Casa Santa Marta chapel, to 鈥渢each the people to adore in silence.鈥�
Listen and pardon
The 杏MAP导航 gave several keys that can be used in teaching adoration: 鈥渋t is an uphill journey with the memory of election. We can only arrive there with the memory of having been chosen, of bearing within our heart the promise which pushes us to keep going with the covenant in our hand and in our heart.鈥� In the presence of God鈥檚 glory, he said, 鈥渨ords disappear, we do not know what to say.鈥� Anticipating tomorrow鈥檚 reading, 杏MAP导航 Francis suggested that we too use the only two words that Solomon was able to utter鈥斺�渓isten and pardon鈥�.
It would good for us to take some time today, he said, to remember our journey, 鈥渢he memory of graces received, the memory of election, of the promise, of the covenant.鈥� And thus to go up towards adoration.
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