杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 homily focused on the liturgical readings for the Mass, all of which remind us 鈥渨e were not born for death, but for resurrection鈥�. He began by asking how we respond to the call 鈥渢o rise again鈥�, and then provided three points for reflection, starting with the St John鈥檚 Gospel, and Jesus鈥� promise that 鈥淲hoever comes to me I will never cast out鈥�.

Going to Jesus

The invitation to 鈥済o to Jesus鈥� may seem both predictable and generic, said the 杏MAP导航. But we need to make it concrete, asking ourselves questions like: 鈥淒id I involve Jesus in the people I met today, did I bring them to Him in prayer? What is the direction of my journey? Do I simply try to make a good impression, to safeguard my role, my times, and my spaces?鈥� There is no middle ground for those who believe, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淲hoever belongs to Jesus lives by going forth toward Him鈥�.

Going forth

All of life is a 鈥済oing forth鈥�, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, from the womb to when we leave this world. 鈥淎s we pray for our brother Cardinals and Bishops, who have gone forth from this life to meet the Risen One鈥�, he said, 鈥渨e cannot forget the most important and difficult going forth, which gives meaning to all the others: the 鈥榞oing out鈥� from ourselves鈥�. Only by going out of ourselves do we open the door that leads to the Lord, said the 杏MAP导航.

Going toward others

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� second reflection found its inspiration in the First Reading, where Judas Maccabeus performs a merciful gesture for the dead. 鈥淐ompassion toward others opens wide the door to eternity. Bending down toward the needy to serve them is an antechamber to paradise鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. If charity is the bridge that connects earth to Heaven, we must ask ourselves if we are moving forward on this bridge. 鈥淎m I touched by the situation of someone in need? Can I weep for those who suffer? Do I pray for those whom no one thinks about? These are questions of life, questions of resurrection鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis.

Going toward the end

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 third stimulus in view of the Resurrection came from the Spiritual Exercises. Saint Ignatius suggests that, 鈥渂efore making an important decision, one should imagine oneself before God at the end of days鈥�. This is the call that cannot be postponed, said the 杏MAP导航, the point of arrival for all of us. 鈥淛ust as the sowing is judged from the harvest, so life is judged well from its end鈥�. A useful exercise is seeing reality with the eyes of the Lord and not only with our own, added 杏MAP导航 Francis: looking to the future, the Resurrection, making choices 鈥渢hat taste of eternity, that taste of love鈥�.

Going out from myself

鈥淒o I go out from myself to go to the Lord every day? Do I perform acts of compassion towards those in need? Do I make important decisions before God?鈥� The 杏MAP导航 concluded his homily, inviting us to 鈥渂e moved by at least one of these three stimuli鈥�.

鈥淎mong the many voices of the world that make us lose our sense of existence, let us tune in to the will of Jesus, risen and alive鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. If we do, 鈥渨e will make of our life today a dawn of Resurrection鈥�.