杏MAP导航

By Joseph Tulloch

杏MAP导航 Francis began his by quoting Jesus鈥� words from today鈥檚 Gospel: 鈥渢he sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light鈥�.

These words might suggest the idea of the end of the world, the 杏MAP导航 said, but 鈥渢he Lord seizes the opportunity to offer a different interpretation鈥�, namely that 鈥淗eaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away鈥�.

What will pass

This, the 杏MAP导航 said, would be the subject for his catechesis: what passes and what remains.

Turning initially to consider things that pass, the 杏MAP导航 noted that 鈥渋n some circumstances in our life, when we are going through a crisis or experience some failure 鈥� we have the feeling that everything is coming to an end, and even the most beautiful things pass away.鈥�

These crises, the 杏MAP导航 stressed, though difficult, are 鈥渋mportant鈥�, because they teach us to 鈥渁ccord everything its due weight鈥�, and not 鈥渁ttach our hearts to the realities of this world.鈥�

St Peter's Square during the Angelus   (Vatican Media)

What will remain

While everything in this world passes away, the 杏MAP导航 said, Jesus鈥� words do not: they will remain for eternity.

And, because Christ himself remains, so does everything else.

鈥淚n Him鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 stressed, 鈥渨e shall one day find again the things and people who have passed away and who have accompanied us in our earthly existence. In the light of this promise of resurrection, every reality takes on a new meaning: everything dies and we too will one day die, but we will lose nothing of what we have built and loved, because death will be the beginning of a new life.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis then brought his catechesis to an end with an invitation to his listeners to reflect on what they value in their own lives.

Let us ask ourselves: are we attached to earthly things, which pass quickly, or to the words of the Lord, which remain and guide us towards eternity?