杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

杏MAP导航 Francis closed the calendar year with Evening Prayer, adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and the singing of the Te Deum in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica on Monday evening. Reflecting on the short reading from Evening Prayer for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, 杏MAP导航 Francis focused on the phrases 鈥渇ullness of time鈥� and 鈥渢o redeem鈥�.

Fullness of time

杏MAP导航 Francis began saying the Apostle Paul wrote that in the 鈥渇ullness of time鈥� God sent His Son not only born of a woman but born under the Mosaic Law. 鈥淗ow can this be the sign of the 鈥榝ullness of time鈥�?鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis asked. Though He began invisibly and insignificantly it would only be thirty years before Jesus would 鈥渦nleash an unheard-of power, which still endures and will endure for all of history. This power is called Love. It is love that gives fullness to everything, even to time鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said. In Jesus, God concentrated all of His love.

Born to redeem

Jesus was born to accomplish the mission given to Him by His Father: to redeem. To 鈥渞edeem鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis explained, 鈥渋s to liberate from a condition of slavery and restore the freedom, dignity and that liberty proper to children 鈥�. It is from the 鈥渁ncient slavery to sin鈥� that the human heart is liberated and our dignity restored, he said.

Modern slavery

杏MAP导航 Francis then stopped to reflect on the condition of homelessness faced by at least ten thousand people in Rome. He called their condition a form of slavery 鈥渦nworthy of the human person鈥�. Jesus too 鈥渨as born in a similar condition, not by chance or by accident鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渂ut to demonstrate God鈥檚 love for the lowly and the poor鈥�.

Church鈥檚 maternity

杏MAP导航 Francis said he wants to encourage a model of maternity for the Feast of Mary鈥檚 Divine Maternity. It is a model of a Church that draws near people within their lived reality, rather than simply looking on and offering help in some way. It is recognizing that through a woman we received 鈥渢he fullness of our humanity, 鈥榯he adoption as children鈥欌��. Jesus鈥� abasement raised us up, His lowliness made us great, His weakness made us strong. Because Jesus became a servant 鈥渨e have received freedom鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said.

Love is His name

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis said,

鈥淲hat name can be given to all this if not Love­ ? The Love of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to whom this evening holy Mother Church lifts up her hymn of praise and thanksgiving.鈥�