杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淲e have begun Holy Week. For the second time we will live it within the context of the pandemic,鈥� said . Last year, he said, 鈥渨e were mostly shocked; this year we are more sorely tried. And the economic crisis has grown severe.鈥�

In the grave situation we are facing, what is God doing? the 杏MAP导航 asked. He responded, 鈥淛esus takes up the Cross.鈥� The 杏MAP导航 explained that Jesus takes upon Himself not only the physical and psychological evils that accompany the pandemic, 鈥渂ut above all spiritual evil鈥� 鈥� because, he said, 鈥渢he Evil One takes advantage of crises in order to sow distrust, despair, and strife.鈥�

Mary shows us the way

How, then, are we to respond? the 杏MAP导航 continued. His answer? 鈥淭he Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who is also His first disciple shows us the way: She followed her Son.鈥�

Mary, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渢ook upon herself her own share of suffering, darkness and bewilderment, and walked the path of the Passion, keeping the lamp of faith burning in her heart.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥淲ith God鈥檚 grace, we too can make this journey.鈥� And he encouraged us, in our own 鈥渄aily way of the Cross,鈥� not to pass by our brothers and sisters in difficulty, but to 鈥渁llow our hearts to be moved by compassion and draw near鈥� to them.

Like Simon the Cyrene, who was forced by the Romans to help Jesus carry the Cross, we too might ask, 鈥淲hy me?鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said. But it is precisely in that moment, he added, 鈥渢hat we will discover the gift that we have been given, without our own merit.鈥�

The Holy Father concluded his reflection with a prayer that our Lady might help us, because, he said, "she always goes before us on the path of faith.鈥�

杏MAP导航 prays for Indonesia

Before the recitation of the Marian prayer, 杏MAP导航 Francis prayed for all the victims of violence. He made special note of Indonesia, saying "especially those of this morning's attack in Indonesia, in front of the Cathedral of Makassar". The Cathedral was rocked by a suicide bombing on Sunday which, early reports say, wounded many people including church workers and worshippers.