«Each one of us has his/her own cross. The Lord makes us see the end of this course, which is Resurrection, beauty, after carrying one’s cross.»
That was the reminder of Pope Francis in his remarks March 17, 2019, before praying the noonday Angelus with the crowds of the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. He commented on the gospel of the day, Luke’s account of the Transfiguration.
The Holy Father noted that the remarkable event occurred shortly after Jesus had revealed to the disciples that there would be great suffering ahead. But he wanted to show them that great joy would follow. Jesus knew the disciples could not accept the passion that was to come.
The Pope said that «Christ’s Transfiguration shows us the Christian perspective of suffering. Suffering isn’t sadomasochism: it’s a necessary but transitory passage.»
«By showing His Glory in this way, Jesus assures us that the cross, the trials, the difficulties in which we find ourselves have their solution and their overcoming in Easter,» Francis explained. «Therefore, in this Lent, let us also go up the mountain with Jesus! But how? With prayer, we go up the mountain with prayer: silent prayer, heartfelt prayer, prayer that always seeks the Lord. We stay for a few moments in recollection, a bit every day, we fix our interior gaze on His face and we let His light pervade us and radiate in our life.»
The Holy Father concluded with the observation that people who pray have a «luminous» look in their eyes: «They pray, and prayer does this: it makes us luminous with the light of the Holy Spirit.» And he encouraged listeners to continue their Lenten journey with prayer and joy.
