During his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis called on the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square to search for the true treasure of love in their lives. THe Holy Father reflected on the Sunday Gospel from St. Luke where Jesus instructs the disciples to seek “an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.”
The Holy Father said that Christ’s instructions to his disciples focused on the detachment from earthly goods, the confidence in God’s providence and the “interior vigilance” for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
“For Jesus it is the expectation of returning to the house of the Father. For us it is the expectation of Christ himself, who will come to get us to bring us to the feast without end, as he has already done with his Mother, Mary Most Holy: he brought her to heaven with him,” the Pope said.
“This Gospel wishes to tell us that the Christian is one who carries within himself a great desire, a profound desire: that of meeting with his Lord together with his brothers, with his companions on the road. And all of this that Jesus tells us is summed up in this well-known saying of his: ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart is too’”.
The Pope went on to reflect on the desires of one’s heart, asking the pilgrims present to ask themselves on where their treasure truly is and “what pulls at your heart”.
Can I say that it is the love of God? Is there the will to do good to others, to live for the Lord and for our brothers? Can I say this?” the Holy Father asked. Everyone answers in his heart. But someone might say to me: ‘But, Father, I’m someone who works, who has a family. For me the most important thing is to move my family ahead, to get ahead in work.’ Of course, it is true, it is important. But what is the power that unites the family? It is precisely love, and God is the one who sows love in our hearts, the love of God: It is precisely the love of God that gives meaning to the little daily duties and also helps us face the great trials.”
Concluding his address before reciting the Angelus, Pope Francis stated that Man’s true treasure is to move forward in life with the love that is sown in man’s heart: the love of God which is reflected in His Son, Jesus Christ.
“The love of God in Jesus always opens us up to hope, to that horizon of hope, to that ultimate horizon of our pilgrimage. In this way even our struggles and falls have a meaning. Our sins too have meaning in the love of God, because this love of God in Jesus Christ always forgives, it loves us so much that it always forgives us,” the Pope said.
Greeting to Muslims
After the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Francis greeted Muslims who celebrated the conclusion of the month of Ramadan recently. The Holy Father reiterated the message he personally wrote to all Muslims last week.
“As I wrote in my message for this occasion, I hope that Christians and Muslims work to promote reciprocal understanding, especially in the education of new generations,” the Holy Father said.
