杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

from the library of the Apostolic Palace due to a new pandemic lockdown in Italy, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled the great responsibility Christians and our communities have in helping people to meet and know Jesus.

The day鈥檚 Gospel reading recounts how Jesus responds to the request of the Greeks by saying 鈥淭he hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified鈥�. Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit鈥� (Jn 12:23-24). The 杏MAP导航 said this answer shows that Jesus is 鈥渢he hidden seed ready to die in order to bear much fruit鈥� and in order to know and understand Him you look at the cross.

The Cross, symbol par excellence of Christians

The sign of the Cross over the centuries, the 杏MAP导航 said 鈥渉as become the symbol par excellence of Christians鈥�, and the Crucifix is often where people 鈥渟ee Jesus鈥�,  especially those from places where Christianity is not well-known where it is the sign they encounter and come to recognize. They see them in churches, the homes of Christians or worn by believers. The important thing, the 杏MAP导航 says, is that 鈥渢he sign be consistent with the Gospel: the cross cannot but express love, service, unreserved self-giving鈥� to be truly the 鈥渢ree of life鈥�.

Getting to know Jesus

Often times people today wish to know more about Jesus, implicitly wanting to 鈥渟ee Jesus鈥�, and 杏MAP导航 Francis says Christians 鈥渕ust respond with the witness of a life that is given in service鈥�. We are called to sow seeds of love through concrete, simple, and courageous gestures, not just words, the 杏MAP导航 said. The Lord with his grace 鈥渕akes us bear fruit鈥� even where misunderstandings, difficulty, or persecution exist. During these trials while the seed is dying is when 鈥渓ife blossoms, to bear ripe fruit in due time鈥�, he noted, since death and life intertwine and we can 鈥渆xperience the joy and true fruitfulness of love, which always, I repeat, is given in God's style: closeness, compassion, tenderness".

The 杏MAP导航 prayed that the Virgin Mary might help us all follow Jesus on this journey of service so that 鈥渢he love of Christ may shine鈥� and all can see and know Him.