杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

On the Cross, we see the glory of Jesus and of the Father, 杏MAP导航 Francis reminded the faithful at the Sunday Angelus. 

for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the Holy Father explained that Jesus 鈥渨ants to tell us that glory, for God, does not correspond to human success, fame, or popularity鈥� For God, glory is about loving to the point of giving one鈥檚 life.鈥�

This, the 杏MAP导航 continued, happened in a definitive way on the Cross, 鈥渨here Jesus unfolded God鈥檚 love to the fullest, fully revealing the face of mercy, giving life, and forgiving those who crucified Him.鈥�

Gift and forgiveness, the essence of God's glory

The 杏MAP导航 went on to say that from the Cross, Jesus teaches us that 鈥済ift and forgiveness are the essence of God鈥檚 glory. And they are the way of life for us.鈥�

This implies a standard that differs from the criteria for worldly glory, 杏MAP导航 Francis said. But 鈥渨orldly glory鈥� he added, 鈥減asses away and leaves no joy in the heart; nor does it lead to the good of all, but to division, discord, and envy.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis invited everyone to ask themselves, 鈥淲hat is the glory I desire for myself, for my life, that I dream for my future?鈥� Is it worldly glory? Or is it, 鈥渢he way of gift and forgiveness, the way of Christ Crucified, the way of one who does not tire of giving, confident that this bears witness to God in the world and makes the beauty of life shine? For when we give and forgive, God鈥檚 glory shines in us.鈥�

The Holy Father concluded his Angelus reflection with the prayer that the Virgin Mary, 鈥渨ho followed Jesus with faith in the hour of the Passion,鈥� might 鈥渉elp us to be living reflections of God鈥檚 love.鈥�