杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

In this Sunday鈥檚 Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to 鈥済ird your loins and light your lamps鈥�. Speaking before the recitation of the Angelus in St Peter鈥檚 Square, 杏MAP导航 Francis described this image as one that 鈥渞ecalls the attitude of the pilgrim, ready to set out on a journey鈥�. 鈥淚t is a question of not putting down roots in comfortable and reassuring dwellings鈥�, he said, 鈥渂ut of abandoning oneself with simplicity and trust to the will of God, who guides us towards the next goal鈥�.

Light your lamps

By reminding us to 鈥渓ight our lamps鈥�, Jesus invites us 鈥渢o live an authentic and mature faith, capable of illuminating the many 鈥榥ights鈥� of life鈥�, continued the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淭he lamp of faith needs to be nourished continuously, with a heart to heart encounter with Jesus in prayer, and in listening to His Word鈥�. 鈥淭rue faith opens the heart to one's neighbor鈥�, he said, 鈥渁nd spurs us on to concrete communion with our brothers and sisters, especially with those in need鈥�.

Be vigilant

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

Eternal happiness

鈥淚f we live in harmony with the Gospel and God's commandments鈥�, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥淗e will allow us to share in His eternal happiness鈥�. Although 鈥渨e cannot really understand what this supreme joy will be like鈥�, 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鈥�. It is as though everything in Heaven will be reversed, said the 杏MAP导航: 鈥淚t will no longer be the servants, namely, us, who will serve God, but God will put Himself at our service鈥�.

Hope and holiness

May the thought of the final encounter with the Father 鈥渇ill us with hope鈥�, concluded 杏MAP导航 Francis. May it stimulate us to a constant commitment to becoming holy, 鈥渁nd to building a more just and fraternal world鈥�.