杏MAP导航

By Lydia O'Kane

At the beginning of Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter, 杏MAP导航 Francis prayed for those who work in the media.

鈥淲e pray for the men and women who work in the media. In this time of pandemic they risk a lot and work a lot. May the Lord help them to always transmit the truth.鈥�

In his homily, the 杏MAP导航 reflected on Wednesday鈥檚 Gospel (Jn 12:44-50) in which Jesus says: 鈥淚 came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness鈥�.

Jesus light of the world

杏MAP导航 Francis explained that Jesus's mission is to enlighten because 鈥淗e is the light of the world.鈥�

He continued saying that the mission of the apostles was also to bring this light, the light of Jesus, 鈥渂ecause the world is in darkness.鈥�

But the drama of Jesus's light, stressed the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渋s that it was rejected; His people did not welcome him. They loved darkness more than light; they were slaves to darkness.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis described how the light makes us see things as they are; it makes us see the truth.

Darkness to light

Dwelling on Saint Paul, the 杏MAP导航 said that he too had this experience of the passage from darkness to light and 鈥渋t is a passage to which we are also called.鈥�

Jesus brings the light to His people but they reject Him, noted 杏MAP导航 Francis.

He went on to say, that our sin is what blinds us and we cannot tolerate the light, because our eyes are sick.

Blinded by sin

We are blinded, the 杏MAP导航 said, by vices, pride and the worldly spirit. 鈥淚t is not easy to live in the light because it makes us see the ugly things inside that we do not want to see: our sins.鈥�

But if we think of these things, 杏MAP导航 Francis added, "we will not find a wall, no, we will find an exit", because Jesus himself says that He is the light.

杏MAP导航 Francis underlined that Jesus came into the world not to condemn but to save, and 鈥渨e must let ourselves be enlightened in our daily darkness鈥�.

Courage to be enlightened

Have courage, the 杏MAP导航 emphasized, 鈥渓et yourself be enlightened, let yourself be seen for what you have inside鈥�, because it is Jesus who leads you forward; who saves you.

It is "the Lord who saves us from the darkness that we have inside, from the darkness of daily life, of social life, of political life, of national and international life鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

Conversion, he highlighted, 鈥渋s passing from darkness to light.鈥�

鈥淭he Lord saves us, but He asks us to see the darkness first... The Lord is good, He is gentle, He is near to us. He came to save us. Let鈥檚 not be afraid of the light of Jesus.鈥�