杏MAP导航 at Jubilee Audience: 'To hope is to turn around to God'
By Lisa Zengarini
At his second Jubilee Catechesis on Saturday, 杏MAP导航 Francis offered a reflection on the meaning of conversion, hope and the transformative power of faith, encouraging the faithful to rethink their lives within the framework of "God's dream鈥�.
Changing direction and perspective
Conversion, he explained is a 鈥渃hange of direction,鈥� that allows us to change the way we see things in our lives. It is not a one-time event but an ongoing process in which we repeatedly turn away from old ways of thinking and embrace new possibilities.
This dynamic shift in perspective, the 杏MAP导航 suggested, is what gives rise to hope: even in a world filled with suffering and wrongdoing, hope emerges when individuals recognize the presence of those who live differently鈥攑eople whose humility and transformation captivate and inspire others.
Mary Magdalene, healed by God's mercy
To illustrate this theme, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted the figure of Mary Magdalene who embodies the power of divine mercy. Jesus healed Mary Magdalene, restoring her dignity and purpose. Through this encounter, she was brought back into God鈥檚 dream, finding new direction and meaning in her life, showing that conversion is not only about personal change but also about entering into a greater reality shaped by God鈥檚 love.
The 杏MAP导航 focused in particular on John鈥檚 account of the Magdalene鈥檚 meeting with the Risen Christ, drawing attention to the repeated mention of Mary "turning around". Initially, she is focused on the empty tomb, lost in grief, unable to recognize Jesus standing before her. But when she hears Him call her by name, she turns once again鈥攖his time with a new understanding: she no longer sees death and despair, but life and hope.
Turning around to see things differently
From this passage, the 杏MAP导航 said, derives a crucial lesson: that true faith requires continuous conversion, that we must remain open to seeing reality differently.
The 杏MAP导航 challenged to ask ourselves: 鈥淒o I know how to turn around to see things differently?鈥� and 鈥淒o I have the desire for conversion?鈥�
A proud ego prevents us from recognizing the Risen Jesus
He warned that an 鈥渙verconfident and proud ego prevents us from recognizing the Risen Jesus鈥� who appears in unexpected forms鈥攊n the faces of ordinary people, particularly those who are marginalized or overlooked. 鈥淓ven when we weep and despair," he added, "we turn our back on Him.鈥�
Bringing his reflection to a close, 杏MAP导航 Francis invited the faithful to learn from Mary Magdalene 鈥渢o turn towards life鈥�, the 鈥渞eal life鈥� where the Risen Jesus has a place and mission for us, "instead of looking into the darkness of the past.鈥� In Jesus, he concluded, 鈥渆veryone can say: I have a place, I am a mission!鈥�
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