杏MAP导航 at Angelus: Faith is a love story with God
By Linda Bordoni
How to be fulfilled in faith and reciprocate God's love was the message at the heart of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 reflection on Sunday as he addressed believers gathered for the recitation of the Angelus.
Reflecting on the Gospel of the day, 杏MAP导航 Francis said Jesus 鈥渕akes us understand that religious rules are necessary, they are good, but they are only the beginning: to fulfil them, it is necessary to go beyond the letter and live their meaning.鈥�
Taking his cue from the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus says 鈥淒o not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfil鈥� (Mt 5:17), he explained that To fulfil is a key word to understand Jesus and his message.
Ritualistic observance is pointless
It is not enough to lead a life respecting the laws, he said, to refrain from killing but hurting with words, to refrain from committing adultery but living a love 鈥渢ainted by duplicity and falsehood,鈥� to take a solemn oath 鈥渋f one then acts with hypocrisy. "This," he underscored, "is not fulfilment."
The Holy Father explained that 鈥淢aking an offering to God reciprocates the gratuity of his gifts.鈥�
The message is clear, he said: 鈥淕od loves us first, freely, taking the first step towards us, without us deserving it.鈥�
鈥淚n this way, there is fulfilment in God鈥檚 eyes,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渙therwise external, purely ritualistic observance is pointless.鈥�
He said that 鈥渞eligious rules are necessary, they are good, but they are only the beginning: to fulfil them, it is necessary to go beyond the letter and live their meaning.鈥�
Aspire to the maximum
杏MAP导航 Francis said that this is a timeless issue and reminded believers that faith is not 鈥渁 formal observance, which is satisfied with the bare minimum, whereas Jesus invites us to aspire to the maximum possible.鈥�
True love, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥渋s never up to a certain point, and is never satisfied; love goes beyond, one cannot do without.鈥�
He said the Lord showed us this 鈥渂y giving his life on the cross and forgiving his murderers, and he entrusted to us the commandment most dear to him: that we love each other like he loved us.
杏MAP导航 Francis concluded encouraging Christians to ask themselves how they live their faith: 鈥淚s it a matter of calculations, formalism, or a love story with God? Am I content with not doing harm, of keeping the 鈥渇açade鈥� in good order, or do I try to grow in love for God and others?鈥�
Every now and then, he said, check yourself on Jesus鈥� great commandment, asking whether "I love my neighbour as He loves me?"
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