杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

Reflecting on the day鈥檚 liturgy, as he addressed the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square for the Sunday Angelus, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that Jesus is unusually indignant in the Gospel reading. What is most surprising about His indignation, continued the 杏MAP导航, is that it 鈥渋s not caused by the Pharisees who test Him with questions about the legality of divorce, but by His disciples who, in order to protect Him from the crowd of people, scold some children who are brought to Jesus鈥�. The 杏MAP导航 asked, Why does the Lord gets angry with those who take the children away from Him rather than with those who argue with Him?

The little are in need

The 杏MAP导航 recalled that Jesus teaches that 鈥渋t is precisely the little ones, that is, those who depend on others, who are in need and cannot give back, who are to be served first鈥�. Those who seek God find Him there, in the little ones, in those in need, explained the 杏MAP导航.

Today the Lord takes up this teaching and completes it, adding "whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child receives it will not enter it" (Mk 10:15). The 杏MAP导航 explained that the novelty lies here: 鈥淭he disciple must not only serve the little ones, but recognise himself as a little one鈥�. Knowing oneself to be small is indispensable for welcoming the Lord, added the 杏MAP导航.

The 杏MAP导航 went on to say that it is in recognising oneself as small that we then become big. Not so much in success, he continued, 鈥渂ut above all in moments of struggle and fragility鈥�. The mask of superficiality is falling and our radical fragility is re-emerging, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, describing it as 鈥渙ur treasure鈥� because 鈥渨ith God fragility is not an obstacle, but an opportunity鈥�.

Fragility means care

In fact, it is precisely in fragility that we discover how much God cares for us, continued the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淐ontradictions, situations that reveal our fragility are privileged occasions to experience his love鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航, adding that 鈥渢hose who pray with perseverance know it well: in moments of darkness or loneliness, God's tenderness towards us becomes - so to speak - even more present鈥�. It gives us peace, added the 杏MAP导航, bringing his discourse to an end. 鈥淚t makes us grow鈥�, he said. Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis stressed that in prayer, 鈥渢he Lord holds us close to Himself, like a father with his child鈥�, and this, he concluded, 鈥渋s how we become great鈥�.