杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to “gird your loins and light your lamps”. Speaking before the recitation of the Angelus in St Peter’s Square, 杏MAP导航 Francis described this image as one that “recalls the attitude of the pilgrim, ready to set out on a journey”. “It is a question of not putting down roots in comfortable and reassuring dwellings”, he said, “but of abandoning oneself with simplicity and trust to the will of God, who guides us towards the next goal”.

Light your lamps

By reminding us to “light our lamps”, Jesus invites us “to live an authentic and mature faith, capable of illuminating the many ‘nights’ of life”, continued the 杏MAP导航. “The lamp of faith needs to be nourished continuously, with a heart to heart encounter with Jesus in prayer, and in listening to His Word”. “True faith opens the heart to one's neighbor”, he said, “and spurs us on to concrete communion with our brothers and sisters, especially with those in need”.

Be vigilant

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus describes the servants awaiting the return of their master as an example of remaining vigilant. We need to be ready “for the final and definitive encounter with the Lord”, added 杏MAP导航 Francis. "Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival”. With these words, “the Lord reminds us that life is a journey towards eternity”, said the 杏MAP导航. “Every moment becomes precious, so we must live and act on this earth having a longing for Heaven in our hearts”.

Eternal happiness

“If we live in harmony with the Gospel and God's commandments”, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, “He will allow us to share in His eternal happiness”. Although “we cannot really understand what this supreme joy will be like”, said the 杏MAP导航, Jesus offers us an image of the master who, finding his servants still awake on his return, "will have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them”. It is as though everything in Heaven will be reversed, said the 杏MAP导航: “It will no longer be the servants, namely, us, who will serve God, but God will put Himself at our service”.

Hope and holiness

May the thought of the final encounter with the Father “fill us with hope”, concluded 杏MAP导航 Francis. May it stimulate us to a constant commitment to becoming holy, “and to building a more just and fraternal world”.