杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

Before the recitation of the Marian prayer, the 杏MAP导航 recalled the Sunday Gospel, in which Jesus is criticized for being “in the company of tax collectors and sinners”, with the phrase “He welcomes sinners and eats with them”.

The Pontiff commented that this is actually a “great announcement”, because Jesus does exactly that: he “welcomes sinners and eats with them”. This is a phrase, said the 杏MAP导航, that could be written on the doors of our Churches, as he explained that “at every Mass, in every Church: Jesus is happy to welcome us at his table, where he offers himself to us”.

The parables

Faced with those who criticize him, said the 杏MAP导航, “the Lord recounts three parables which show his predilection for those who feel far from him”.

The sheep

In the first parable, noted 杏MAP导航 Francis, Jesus asks ‘who among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one, does not leave the ninety-nine in the desert to go in search of the lost one?’.

However, God, continued the 杏MAP导航, “does not resign himself.” For him, those who have not yet known the beauty of his love are “at the centre of his heart”.

The coin

The second parable recounts the story a of a lady who loses one of her ten coins.

“You”, said 杏MAP导航 Francis “are that little coin that the Lord does not resign himself to losing, and seeks relentlessly”. Because, he explained, the Lord wants to tell you that you are “unique”.

The son

In the third parable “the Father awaits the return of the Prodigal son”. God, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, “awaits us, does not tire, does not lose heart.” Even if you think you have done many horrible things, said the 杏MAP导航, “do not be afraid”. God does not get tired, because “we are that reunited son, that rediscovered coin, that caressed sheep...”

A life changing love

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to explain that God waits for us to accept his infinite love. He continued, saying this infinite love, at times, “can be rejected”. This is precisely what the eldest son does in the parables, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. He imagines God as a “master” rather than as a “Father”; a “rigorous” God rather than a “merciful” one. “No”, said the 杏MAP导航, “God saves with love, not with force. He proposes himself but does not impose himself”.

Accepting God’s forgiveness

At times, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, we too are mistaken, when, like the eldest son, “we believe ourselves to be right” and think that it is others who are bad.

Let us “not believe ourselves to be good” said 杏MAP导航 Francis. “Because alone, without the help of God, who is good, we do not know how to overcome evil”.

Overcoming evil

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 asked, so how do we defeat evil? “By accepting God’s forgiveness”, he replied. “God cancels out evil”, he said, concluding that “with God, sin does not have the last word”.