(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 11.17.2024).- Around 25,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at noon on Sunday, November 17, to join the Pope in praying the Angelus. The Holy Father reminded those present that the Catholic Church was commemorating the World Day of the Poor that Sunday and took the opportunity to “thank all those who, in dioceses and parishes, have promoted initiatives of solidarity with the most disadvantaged.” Below is the English translation of the Pope’s Sunday address preceding the Angelus.
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Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!
In the Gospel of today’s liturgy, Jesus describes a great tribulation: “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light” (Mk 13:24). Faced with this suffering, many might think of the end of the world, but the Lord seizes the opportunity to offer a different interpretation, saying: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mk 13:31).
We can take a closer look at this expression: what will pass and what will remain.
First of all, what will pass.
In some circumstances in our life, when we are going through a crisis or experience some failure, as well as when we see around us the pain caused by wars, violence, natural disasters, we have the feeling that everything is coming to an end, and we feel that even the most beautiful things pass away. Crises and failures, however, though painful, are important, because they teach us to accord everything its due weight, not to attach our hearts to the realities of this world, because they will pass: they are destined to fade away.
At the same time, Jesus talks about what will remain.
Everything passes away, but His words will not pass away: Jesus’ words will remain for eternity. He thus invites us to trust in the Gospel, which contains a promise of salvation and eternity, and not to live under the anguish of death. For while everything passes away, Christ remains. In Him, in Christ, we 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.
Brothers and sisters, even in tribulations, in crises, in failures, the Gospel invites us to look at life and history without fear of losing what ends, but with joy for what will remain. Let us not forget that God is preparing for us a future of life and joy.
And so, let us ask ourselves: are we attached to earthly things, which pass away, which pass quickly, or to the words of the Lord, which remain and guide us towards eternity? Let us ask ourselves this question, please. It will help us.
And let us pray to the Blessed Virgin, who entrusted herself totally to the Word of God, so that She may intercede for us.
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