Pope
Francis greeted tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered on a bright
crisp day in St. Peter’s Square Monday for the recitation of the Angelus
Prayer and to celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany with the Holy Father.
In
his address, the Pope referred to Pope Benedict Emeritus’s book, “Jesus
of Nazareth: the Infancy Narratives” which he said “magnificently”
recounts the biblical coming of the Magi from the East to Bethlehem to
pay homage to the Christ Child. The Epiphany, Pope Francis said, marks
the first “manifestation” of Christ to the people and as a consequence,
points to the universal salvation brought by Jesus.
In today’s
feast, we see a “dual movement,” the Pope noted: of God who comes
“towards the world, towards humanity” and of men who seek closeness to
God: “the religions, the search for truth, the way of people towards
peace, justice, liberty.”
For his part, God loves us: “we are His
children; He loves us and He wants to liberate us from evil, from
sickness, from death, and take us to His home in His Kingdom.” We too,
the Pope said, are attracted by “goodness, truth, life and happiness
and beauty.”
And as the two sides attract, Jesus, the Pope stressed, is our point of encounter with the Lord as His love incarnate.
Had
the Magi not seen the Star pointing them to Jesus’ birthplace in
Bethlehem, they would never have left, the Pope mused. “Light precedes
us, the truth precedes us, beauty precedes us. God precedes us: it is
grace; and this grace appears in Jesus. He is the Epiphany, the
manifestation of God’s love.”
Departing from his prepared
remarks, the Pope appealed “sincerely” and “respectfully” to those who
“feel far from God and from the Church” and to “those who are fearful
and indifferent: the Lord is calling you too.” The Lord is calling you
to be a part of His people and He does it with great respect and love.”
“The
Lord does not proselytize; He gives love,” reaffirmed the Pope. “And
this love seeks you and waits for you, you who at this moment do not
believe or are far away. And this is the love of God.”
Pope
Francis prayed that “all the Church” may be steeped in “the joy of
evangelizing” invoking the aid of the Virgin Mary so that “we can all be
disciple-missionaries, small stars that reflect His light.”
Following
the recital of the Angelus, Pope Francis gave greetings to the Churches
of the East who tomorrow will celebrate Christmas. He prayed that all
will be “reinforced in faith, hope and charity” and the Lord will “give
comfort” to Christian communities and to the Churches undergoing
“trial.”
The Pope recalled that the Epiphany is the missionary
Day for children organized by the Pontifical office for Holy Childhood
and thanked young people and children whose “gestures of solidarity”
towards other children “widen the horizons of their fraternity.”