Pope Francis says "...there is a force more powerful than hatred, it is the force of love, of "God's love [which] has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.."
VIDEO MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
ON THE OCCASION OF THE ECUMENICAL VIGIL OF PENTECOST
ORGANIZED BY CHARIS INTERNATIONAL
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In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, we read: after his Resurrection, «for forty days, Jesus appeared to them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God.
ON THE OCCASION OF THE ECUMENICAL VIGIL OF PENTECOST
ORGANIZED BY CHARIS INTERNATIONAL
__________________________________
In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, we read: after his Resurrection, «for forty days, Jesus appeared to them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God.
Once, while eating with them, he ordered them: Do not go far from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father of which I have spoken to you: John baptized with water, in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (1,3 -5). And later he adds: “When the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will receive power and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (1,8).
On a night like today, those fearful men and women, locked up in the upper floor of Jerusalem -because they knew they were being persecuted- experienced the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, which transformed their lives forever. And their lives, transformed by the power of the Spirit, changed history.
That night, around the world, we are all Christians, united in prayer, awaiting the promise of the Father, the coming of the Holy Spirit. We wait for him because he hasn't come, why isn't he? No. It was already at the moment of Creation and it is in all of us through the Baptism that we have received. Every year, on the eve of Pentecost, we want to have the same experiential and true experience of his presence in us, in our lives, in our communities.
The reality of today in the world is marked by the disease, the pandemic that has taken millions of people around the world, and with it the pain, the suffering, the absence. And also in so many parts of the world, hunger and entire peoples subjected to exile. And war, war between brothers, war between Christians, as is the case at the moment, the invasion of Ukraine. It is also one of the examples of this war throughout the world: the situation in Yemen, the martyrdom of the Rohingya people and the particular situation in Lebanon, among others. War.
And in the face of this torn and also fearful world of the uncertain future, the luminous presence of the Holy Spirit arises tonight, who gives us the strength, who gives us the courage and the decision to work tirelessly for the peace that only He can give. Peace begins in families, in interpersonal and interracial relationships, in relationships between Christians and with members of other religions. Peace begins with love for the enemy, for those who don't think like me... Alone we can't, with the Holy Spirit we can. Hate seems to have taken over the world now. But there is a force more powerful than hatred, it is the force of love, of "God's love [which] has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Rom 5:5).
Tomorrow, with the power of the Holy Spirit, let's look for that person who has hurt us, who we don't want for different reasons, perhaps within our own family, and let's ask for forgiveness, or let's forgive and embrace. This is how peace begins. Little by little, one plus one. The culture of peace, which we must spread, begins like this. The Heads of State will or will not work for peace and will be judged by history. It is up to each of us to spread love and overcome hate with our daily actions. And our children will learn to live it and our grandchildren will learn from them, and so we can do something to change the world.
Yes, we were called to this path: "When the Holy Spirit comes on you, says the Lord, you will receive power and be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
This is what I wish for all of you: that you receive the strength of the Holy Spirit and that you be witnesses. God bless you.
On a night like today, those fearful men and women, locked up in the upper floor of Jerusalem -because they knew they were being persecuted- experienced the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, which transformed their lives forever. And their lives, transformed by the power of the Spirit, changed history.
That night, around the world, we are all Christians, united in prayer, awaiting the promise of the Father, the coming of the Holy Spirit. We wait for him because he hasn't come, why isn't he? No. It was already at the moment of Creation and it is in all of us through the Baptism that we have received. Every year, on the eve of Pentecost, we want to have the same experiential and true experience of his presence in us, in our lives, in our communities.
The reality of today in the world is marked by the disease, the pandemic that has taken millions of people around the world, and with it the pain, the suffering, the absence. And also in so many parts of the world, hunger and entire peoples subjected to exile. And war, war between brothers, war between Christians, as is the case at the moment, the invasion of Ukraine. It is also one of the examples of this war throughout the world: the situation in Yemen, the martyrdom of the Rohingya people and the particular situation in Lebanon, among others. War.
And in the face of this torn and also fearful world of the uncertain future, the luminous presence of the Holy Spirit arises tonight, who gives us the strength, who gives us the courage and the decision to work tirelessly for the peace that only He can give. Peace begins in families, in interpersonal and interracial relationships, in relationships between Christians and with members of other religions. Peace begins with love for the enemy, for those who don't think like me... Alone we can't, with the Holy Spirit we can. Hate seems to have taken over the world now. But there is a force more powerful than hatred, it is the force of love, of "God's love [which] has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Rom 5:5).
Tomorrow, with the power of the Holy Spirit, let's look for that person who has hurt us, who we don't want for different reasons, perhaps within our own family, and let's ask for forgiveness, or let's forgive and embrace. This is how peace begins. Little by little, one plus one. The culture of peace, which we must spread, begins like this. The Heads of State will or will not work for peace and will be judged by history. It is up to each of us to spread love and overcome hate with our daily actions. And our children will learn to live it and our grandchildren will learn from them, and so we can do something to change the world.
Yes, we were called to this path: "When the Holy Spirit comes on you, says the Lord, you will receive power and be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
This is what I wish for all of you: that you receive the strength of the Holy Spirit and that you be witnesses. God bless you.
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