杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

杏MAP导航 Francis introduced Tuesday鈥檚 morning liturgy by asking that we pray for 鈥渁ll those who are sick, medical personnel, all those suffering from the epidemic鈥�. He asked that we pray particularly for priests so that they might have the courage to visit those who are sick, bringing them 鈥渢he strength of the Word of God and the Eucharist, to accompany鈥� all those who are assisting those who are afflicted with the coronavirus.

鈥淵esterday the word of God taught us to recognize our sins and to confess them.鈥� Thus 杏MAP导航 Francis began his homily on Tuesday. 鈥淭oday,鈥� he continued, 鈥渢he Lord asks all of us sinners to dialogue with Him鈥�. He then continued his reflection focusing on passage from the Book of Isaiah: 鈥淐ome now, let us set things right, says the LORD: Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow鈥�.

Sin makes us hide, God wants to talk

Like Adam and Eve, we tend to hide ourselves because of the shame we feel because of the things we have done. Sin makes us close in ourselves. God calls to us to talk about it with Him instead.

鈥淎nd the Lord calls us, 鈥� Come on let's talk this over鈥�, the Lord says. Let's talk about your sin. Let's talk about your situation. Don't be afraid.  No鈥�. Come here. I'm able to change everything, the Lord says.  鈥淒on't be afraid to come and speak about it. Be courageous even before your misery.鈥�

The Lord wants us to give Him our sins

杏MAP导航 Francis then told the story about a saint who was discouraged. No matter what he did, he always felt that the Lord wasn鈥檛 satisfied. So, he asked the Lord what was missing. 鈥淕ive me your sins. That's what's missing鈥�, the Lord responded, the 杏MAP导航 said.

The Lord changes red to white

We deceive ourselves by not speaking with the Lord, 杏MAP导航 Francis continued. We pretend we are not sinners. This is what the Lord reproves the Doctors of the Law for. They did everything for appearance, he said, referring to the Gospel of Matthew 23.

鈥淎ppearance鈥�  Vanity鈥�  Covering the truth of our heart with vanity鈥� Vanity never heals鈥� Rather, it's poisonous. It increases our hardness of heart. [Vanity] says, 鈥榙on't go to the Lord. Remain alone. Vanity is a place where we close ourselves to the Lord鈥檚 call. But the invitation of the Lord is that of a father, a brother. 鈥楥ome on. Come here. Let's talk. In the end, I'm the one who can change your life from red to white.鈥�

Prayer can be real

The 杏MAP导航 concluded his homily, saying that the Word of the Lord shows us that our prayer can be real. We can even pray about the reality of our sins.

鈥淭he Lord knows who we are鈥�but vanity invites us to cover that up. May the Lord help us.鈥�

Until further notice, 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� morning Mass will be broadcast live. You can view it in real time at 7:00am Central Eastern Time on or via the Vatican News App, or through other Catholic televisions stations who are transmitting it. It is posted for later viewing on the Vatican News English YouTube channel, the Vatican News Facebook account, and on the Vatican News portal in the article summarizing the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 homily.