杏MAP导航 at Audience: Sorrow is rooted in love for God
By Vatican News
The 杏MAP导航 continued his journey through the Beatitudes on Wednesday reflecting on the second: 鈥淏lessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted鈥.
He explained to those present at the General Audience, that in the Greek language in which the Gospel is written, such mourning is described by the desert Fathers with the Greek word 鈥減enthos鈥 which he added, is an interior sorrow that can open us up to an authentic relationship with the Lord and with each other.
Two types of sorrow
杏MAP导航 Francis went on to say that the Bible speaks of two types of sorrow: The first is for 鈥渢he death or suffering of someone.鈥 Grief, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out 鈥渋s a bitter road, but it can be used to open one's eyes to life and to the sacred and irreplaceable value of each person, and at that moment one realizes how short time is.鈥
The other aspect, he highlighted 鈥渋s tears for sin - for one's own sin - when one鈥檚 heart bleeds for the pain of having offended God and neighbour. Taking St. Peter as an example of expressing sorrow for sin, the 杏MAP导航 said, that his sorrow was manifested in his tears after his betrayal of Jesus which came as a gift from the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
Both types of sorrow, the Pontiff underlined are grounded in loving concern for others, but above all in love for God.
God鈥檚 forgiveness
The 杏MAP导航 stressed that God always forgives even the ugliest sins. 鈥淭he problem is in us鈥, he said 鈥渢hat we get tired of asking for forgiveness, we shut ourselves up in ourselves and do not ask for pardon. That is the problem; but He is there to forgive.鈥
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