In his homily at Casa Santa Marta this morning, Pope Francis called on the faithful to never forget the memory of their first love, Christ, in order to not become lukewarm Christians.
The first reading of today continued from the Letter to the Hebrews, in which he invites Christians to «remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering.»
According to Vatican Radio, the Pope noted that this memory of the first encounter with Christ is an important moment for Christians to remember. «Memory is so important, to remember the grace received, because if we drive away this enthusiasm that comes from the memory of the first love […], that great danger for so many Christians comes: to be lukewarm.»
The Holy Father said that in becoming «lukewarm», many Christians have lost not only enthusiasm, but also patience and the will to «tolerate» difficulties in life with the same spirit of Christ.
«The lukewarm Christians, poor things, are in grave danger,» he said.
Memory and hope, he went on to say, are the two parameters that Christians have. For a Christian to recall the memory of that first encounter with Christ, «feeds hope.»
«These two parameters are precisely the framework in which we can preserve this salvation of the just that comes from the Lord,» the Holy Father said.Referring to today’s Gospel, the Pope said that salvation that is guarded and protected allows «that mustard seed to grow and give fruit»
Concluding his homily, Pope Francis called on the faithful to pray «for the grace to preserve this gift, the gift of salvation.»
