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 鈥渋n the company of tax collectors and sinners鈥�, with the phrase 鈥淗e welcomes sinners and eats with them鈥�.

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

The parables

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

The sheep

In the first parable, noted 杏MAP导航 Francis, Jesus asks 鈥榳ho 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?鈥�.

However, God, continued the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渄oes not resign himself.鈥� For him, those who have not yet known the beauty of his love are 鈥渁t the centre of his heart鈥�.

The coin

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

鈥淵ou鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis 鈥渁re that little coin that the Lord does not resign himself to losing, and seeks relentlessly鈥�. Because, he explained, the Lord wants to tell you that you are 鈥渦nique鈥�.

The son

In the third parable 鈥渢he Father awaits the return of the Prodigal son鈥�. God, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渁waits us, does not tire, does not lose heart.鈥� Even if you think you have done many horrible things, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渄o not be afraid鈥�. God does not get tired, because 鈥渨e are that reunited son, that rediscovered coin, that caressed sheep...鈥�

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, 鈥渃an be rejected鈥�. This is precisely what the eldest son does in the parables, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. He imagines God as a 鈥渕aster鈥� rather than as a 鈥淔ather鈥�; a 鈥渞igorous鈥� God rather than a 鈥渕erciful鈥� one. 鈥淣o鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥淕od saves with love, not with force. He proposes himself but does not impose himself鈥�.

Accepting God鈥檚 forgiveness

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

Let us 鈥渘ot believe ourselves to be good鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淏ecause alone, without the help of God, who is good, we do not know how to overcome evil鈥�.

Overcoming evil

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 asked, so how do we defeat evil? 鈥淏y accepting God鈥檚 forgiveness鈥�, he replied. 鈥淕od cancels out evil鈥�, he said, concluding that 鈥渨ith God, sin does not have the last word鈥�.