Here and Now with Francis: 8/16/19 (Mary, Assumption, happiness, life)
From the Angelus
How many times, instead, we live pursuing things of little importance: prejudices, rancor, rivalry, envy, illusions, superfluous material goods … How much pettiness in life! We know this is the case. Maria today invites us to look up to the “great things” that the Lord has done in her. In us too, in each of us, the Lord does many great things. We must recognize and rejoice, proclaiming God, for these great things. . . . The feast of the Assumption of Mary is a call for all of us, especially for those who are afflicted by doubts and sadness, and live with their eyes looking down and cannot look up. Let’s look up, the sky is open; it does not arouse fear, it is no longer distant, because on the threshold of Heaven there is a mother who awaits us and is our mother. She loves us, smiles and helps us with care. As every mother wants the best for her children, she tells us: “You are precious in the eyes of God; you are not made for the little fulfillment of the world, but for the great joys of Heaven.” Yes, because God is joy, not boredom! God is joy! Let us allow ourselves to be taken by the hand of the Madonna. Every time we take the Rosary in hand and pray it, we take a step towards the great goal of life. [full text]
Mary shows us that if we want our life to be happy, God must be placed first, because He alone is great.
How many times, instead, we live pursuing things of little importance: prejudices, rancor, rivalry, envy, illusions, superfluous material goods … How much pettiness in life! We know this is the case. Maria today invites us to look up to the “great things” that the Lord has done in her. In us too, in each of us, the Lord does many great things. We must recognize and rejoice, proclaiming God, for these great things. . . . The feast of the Assumption of Mary is a call for all of us, especially for those who are afflicted by doubts and sadness, and live with their eyes looking down and cannot look up. Let’s look up, the sky is open; it does not arouse fear, it is no longer distant, because on the threshold of Heaven there is a mother who awaits us and is our mother. She loves us, smiles and helps us with care. As every mother wants the best for her children, she tells us: “You are precious in the eyes of God; you are not made for the little fulfillment of the world, but for the great joys of Heaven.” Yes, because God is joy, not boredom! God is joy! Let us allow ourselves to be taken by the hand of the Madonna. Every time we take the Rosary in hand and pray it, we take a step towards the great goal of life. [full text]
