杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff reporter

of Holy Mass on the Solemnity of Our Lord Christ the King, and on the occasion of diocesan World Youth Day (WYD), 杏MAP导航 Francis took his cue from the day鈥檚 readings.

The 杏MAP导航 noted that in the Revelation of Saint John and foreshadowed by the prophet Daniel in the first reading, are the words, 鈥淗e is coming with the clouds.鈥�

The second image is that of the Gospel: Christ who stands before Pilate and tells him: 鈥淚 am a king鈥�.

Reflecting on these two phrases, the 杏MAP导航 began by encouraging young people to 鈥渟top and think about these two images of Jesus, as they journey towards the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon.

The 杏MAP导航 noted that the first image: Jesus who comes with the clouds, evokes Christ鈥檚 coming in glory at the end of time. 鈥淚t makes us realize鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis 鈥渢hat the final word on our life will belong to Jesus.鈥� 

鈥淗e comes 鈥榳ith the clouds鈥� to reassure us,'鈥� said the 杏MAP导航.  鈥淎s if to say: 鈥業 will not leave you alone when storms gather over your life.  I am always with you.  I come to bring back the bright sky.鈥欌��

The prophet Daniel, on the other hand, noted 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渢ells us that he saw the Lord coming with the clouds as he 鈥榳atched in the night visions.鈥欌��

The 杏MAP导航 encouraged young people to 鈥渨atch in the night visions.鈥�  鈥淚n other words, let your eyes remain bright even amid the darkness.  Never stop seeking the light amid whatever darkness we may bear in our hearts or see all around us," he said.

Make Jesus your life's dream

杏MAP导航 Francis told young people they had been 鈥渆ntrusted with an exciting but also a challenging task: to stand tall while everything around us seems to be collapsing; to be sentinels prepared to see the light in night visions; to be builders amid the ruins; to be capable of dreaming.鈥�

He also told them that everyone is grateful to them when they dream, because 鈥渨hen you make Jesus your life鈥檚 dream, and you embrace him with joy and a contagious enthusiasm, this does us good," the 杏MAP导航 said.

Thank you, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渂ecause in a world that thinks only of present gain, that tends to stifle grand ideals, you have not lost the ability to dream.  This helps us adults, and the Church as well.鈥�

Dwelling on the second image: Jesus who says to Pilate: 鈥淚 am a king鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 described how we are鈥� struck by Jesus鈥� determination, his courage, his supreme freedom.鈥�  鈥淛esus did not hide his identity, he did not mask his intentions, or take advantage of the opening that even Pilate had left for him,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

鈥淲ith the courage born of truth, he answered: 鈥業 am a king鈥�.  He took responsibility for his own life.鈥�

By following Jesus and being inwardly free, said the 杏MAP导航, we see life 鈥渁s it really is鈥�, and are not deceived 鈥渂y the fashions of the moment and the displays of consumerism that dazzle but also deaden.鈥�  Friends, he added, 鈥渨e are not here to be enchanted by the sirens of the world, but to take our lives in hand, to 鈥榯ake a bite out of life鈥�, in order to live it to the full.鈥�

鈥淚n this way, with the freedom of Jesus, 鈥渨e find the courage we need to swim against the current.鈥�

Concluding his homily, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged young people to continue dreaming, even when they get older;  to be 鈥渇ree and authentic, be the critical conscience of society.鈥�  

鈥淏e passionate about truth, he said, 鈥渟o that, with your dreams, you can say: 鈥淢y life is not captive to the mindset of the world: I am free, because I reign with Jesus for justice, love and peace.鈥�