0
0
Pope Francis’ message on the 420th anniversary of the
Confraternity of Jesus of Nazareth, of Sonsonate (El Salvador)
To His Excellency Most Reverend Mons. Constantino Barrera, Bishop of Sonsonatey
To all the devotees of Jesus of Nazareth
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I thank you for having made me part of the commemoration of the arrival of the image of Jesus of Nazareth in those lands, in 1604, and for being able to join in its celebration on this solemn day of Good Friday.
It is significant how the Lord uses our poor language to convey the divine message to us.
Even today, as our elders did more than 400 years ago, we hope to see the image of Jesus of Nazareth appear.
None of these things, as we do every year when we go out to the doors of our homes, is to see Jesus coming, to recall in some way the attitude of the people of Israel when, at the entrance to their tents, they followed with their eyes Moses as he went to meet the glory of God (cf. Ex 33:8 – Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose up, and every man stood at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he had gone into the tent.).
Like Moses, we too can go up into the presence of the Lord to speak to Him, “face to face, as a man does to his friend” (v. 11). We can do this in prayer, if we imitate their faith.
In this prayer Moses asked the Lord for something that we also seek, that he would “make his ways known to him” (Ex 33:13)
God promised him: “I myself will go with you and give you rest” (v. 14), and it was in this confidence that the prophet walked through the desert. However, being so great, he did not have the opportunity to see the face of God (v. 20 – “you will noy see my face; for man shall not see me and live.”), and many times his confidence waned in the face of life’s trials.
We, on the other hand, can look at that divine face and feel that his feet re walking beside us.
This is the God’s promise God to us when the Nazarene turns to enter our neighborhood, crosses our street, and stops at the door of our homes.
His gaze of naked love examines us and challenges us, like Saint Peter, who says to us: “Do you love me?” (cf. Lk 22:61 – “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”; Jn 21:15-17 – “Feed my lambs.”- “Feed my sheep.”).
Brothers and sisters, in spite of our unworthiness, our constant ingratitude, let us always respond generously to him: “Lord, you know that I love you”.
Because, by responding in this way, we reproduce in our lives the attitude of the Israelites, who remained “prostrate” before the entrances of their tents, when the glory of God descended upon them (v. 10).
In this attitude of adoration, let us show ourselves docile to the promptings of his Spirit, who, like the cloud of fire, guides our journey in this desert (cf. Ex 40:37 – if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not go onward till the day that it was taken up.).
How sad it would be if, every Good Friday, our hearts simply “window-shopped” at a curious scene, without prostrating themselves before the passage of Jesus, without feeling, as Peter did, his invitation to follow him (cf. Jn 21:18-19 = Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”).
What a pity if we did not understand that by taking up His Cross we are able to walk with Him, and we did not perceive that it is He who bears this yoke so that we can find our rest.
Brothers and sisters, today, as every year, as every moment, the Lord comes to meet us, let us follow him, carrying him on our shoulders, consoling him in the open wound of our brothers and sisters who are suffering. Let us ask him to show us how we should “glorify God” with our lives, making our service a source of praise, in our daily work, in the family, in our commitment to create a more fraternal society, in short, in the witness of goodness that we can all give, whatever our vocation. cf. Jn 21:19 – This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”).
May Jesus of Nazareth bless you from Calvary and may your sorrowful Mother take care of you. And please don’t forget to pray for me.
Fraternally,
Rome, St. John Lateran, March 22, 2024, Friday of Sorrows.
FRANCISCO
