Pope Francis urged people to cling to their faith in God and remain aware of his presence in their lives at Sunday’s weekly Angelus address.
“Let us proceed fearlessly, knowing that the Lord is always with us. And let us be vigilant lest it befall us that we slumber while the Lord is walking by,” he remarked on August 7.
Before reciting the Angelus, a Marian prayer, from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, the pope gave a speech about letting go of fear and tension.
Francis observed, “There are times when we feel imprisoned by a feeling of distrust and fear.
It is the fear of failing, of not being recognised and appreciated, the dread of not being able to carry out our plans, the fear of never finding happiness, and so on.
He said, “Fear causes us to seek to discover answers, to find a place to thrive, to gather commodities and fortune, to attain security; and how do we end up? As a result, we live in perpetual worry and anxiety.
Francis cited the St. Luke Gospel reading for the day, saying, “Jesus promises us: Do not be terrified.”
“Have faith in the Father, who desires to supply all that you genuinely require.
He has already given you his Son, his Kingdom, and he will always be with you through providence, watching over you each and every day.
Don’t be terrified; this assurance is what your hearts should be clinging to, the pope remarked.
The pope claimed that Jesus tells his followers to “not be scared” and to “be ready,” which are his two main exhortations.
Our lives are firmly in God’s hands, so there is no need to worry or fret, he stated. But the fact that the Lord loves us and watches over us does not give us the right to sleep or to become lazy.
On the contrary, he said, “we must be watchful, vigilant”. In fact, to love another person entails paying attention to their needs, being aware of them, being open to listening to them, and being prepared.
He included life, faith, family, relationships, job, our home, and creation as examples of the things God has entrusted to us, adding that being vigilant also means being accountable for them.
“So many things have been given to us. Do we properly care for this inheritance the Lord has provided for us, let us try to ask ourselves.
Were we to preserve its beauty or were we to use things solely for our own benefit and short-term convenience? Are we stewards of the creation that has been entrusted to us, we need to consider?
Francis cited St. Augustine’s statement that he was scared of falling asleep and missing the Lord’s passing. “I am fearful that the Lord passes by and I do not notice,” Augustine stated.
“May the Virgin Mary, who gladly and kindly said, “Here I am,” to the Lord’s visit, assist us.”
Following the Angelus, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude for the first grain-carrying ships to be permitted to depart Ukrainian ports since the start of the conflict in February.
This action “shows that there can be conversation and actual results for the benefit of all parties,” he said. Therefore, this incident also serves as a symbol of optimism.
I genuinely hope that this development will lead to the cessation of hostilities and the establishment of a fair and permanent peace.
Francis also shared his sorrow for the Polish tourists who perished or were hurt in a bus accident on Saturday in Croatia.