杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

During his Angelus from St Peter鈥檚 Square, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out that this first Sunday of Advent also marks the beginning of a new liturgical year.

He noted that in it, 鈥渢he Church marks the passage of time with the celebration of the main events in the life of Jesus and in the history of salvation.鈥� In so doing, as Mother, 鈥渟he illuminates the path of our existence, supports us in our daily occupations and guides us towards the final encounter with Christ.鈥�

Expectation of hope

Turning his thoughts to Sunday鈥檚 liturgy, 杏MAP导航 Francis commented that it 鈥渋nvites us to live the first 鈥榠mportant season鈥� of the liturgical year, Advent, which prepares us for Christmas, as a time of expectation and hope.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 said that Saint Paul indicates the object of expectation in the "manifestation of the Lord."

鈥淭he Apostle invites the Christians of Corinth, and us too, to focus our attention on the encounter with Jesus, who will come at the end of the world and who comes every day, so that, with His grace, we might accomplish good in our own lives and in the lives of others,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis.

Calling on the Lord in times of trial

"Our God is the God who comes:" He never disappoints us,  stressed the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淗e came at a precise moment in history and became man to take our sins upon Himself.鈥� 鈥淭he Lord knocks at the doors of our hearts,鈥� he said.

杏MAP导航 Francis emphasized that at a time when people are worried by the COVID-19 pandemic, 鈥渨e run the risk of falling into pessimism, closure and apathy.鈥� The antidote to this, he said, was to await the Lord because he 鈥渋s our help and our shield.鈥�

鈥淐onfidently waiting for the Lord allows us to find comfort and courage in the dark moments of our lives,鈥� he said.

God with us

鈥淎dvent is a continuous call to hope,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 underlined. 鈥淚t reminds us that God is present in history to lead it to its ultimate goal and to its fullness, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. God is present in the history of humanity, He is the 鈥楪od-with-us鈥�, He walks beside us to support us.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by saying, 鈥淭he Lord never abandons us; He accompanies us through the events of our lives to help us discover the meaning of the journey, the meaning of everyday life, to give us courage when we are under duress or when we suffer. In the midst of life鈥檚 storms, God always extends His hand to us and frees us from threats.