(ZENIT News / Rome, 02.25.2024).- At noon on Sunday, February 25, Pope Francis prayed the Angelus with some 20,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. As usual, the Pope gave a brief address on the Sunday Gospel (Mk 9:2-10) and then prayed the Marian prayer of the Angelus. The following is an English translation of the Pope’s words:
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The Gospel of this second Sunday of Lent presents us with the episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus (cf. Mk 9:2-10).
After having announced his Passion to the disciples, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with him and goes up a high mountain, and physically manifests himself there in all his light. In this way, he reveals to them the meaning of what they had experienced together up to that moment. The preaching of the Kingdom, the forgiveness of sins, the healings, and the performed signs were, indeed, sparks of a greater light, namely, of the light of Jesus, of the light that Jesus is. And from this light, the disciples are never to direct their eyes away, especially in moments of trial, like those of the Passion which was near at this point.
This is today’s message: never direct your eyes away from the light of Jesus. It is a little like what farmers used to do in the past while plowing their fields: they focused their gaze on a specific point ahead of them and, while keeping their eyes fixed on that point, they traced straight furrows. This is what we are called to do as Christians while we journey through life: to always keep the luminous face of Jesus before our eyes.
Brothers and sisters, let us be open to welcome the light of Jesus! He is love, He is life without end. Along the roads of existence, which can be tortuous from time to time, let us seek His face, that is full of mercy, fidelity, and hope. It is Prayer, listening to the Word and the Sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist, that help us to do this: Prayer, listening to the Word and the Sacraments help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.And this is a good Lenten resolution: cultivating a welcoming outlook, becoming “seekers of light,” seekers of the light of Jesus, both in prayer and in people.
So let us ask ourselves: do I keep my eyes fixed on Christ who accompanies me? And in order to do so, do I make space for silence, prayer, adoration? Finally, do I seek out every little ray of Jesus’ light, which is reflected in me and in every brother and sister I encounter? And do I remember to thank him for this?
May Mary, who shines with the light of God, help us to keep our gaze fixed on Jesus and to look at each other with trust and love.
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