In the fourth chapter of Christus Vivit, Pope Francis explains three great truths.
GOD WHO IS LOVE
The Pope reminds us that, whatever happens in your life, at every moment, God loves you. In the Word of God, we find that God wished to find different ways of showing this love, so that through at least one of them your heart might be touched. At times he refers to himself as a father who plays with his children: “With human cords I drew them, with bonds of love; I was to them like one who lifts an infant to his cheek, and I bent down to feed them” (Hos 11:4). At other times He speaks as a mother whose love makes it impossible to neglect or abandon her children: “Can a woman forget her baby, and not have compassion on the child of her womb? Even if she could forget, I will never forget you!” (Is 49:15). God even compares Himself to a lover who goes so far as to engrave the name of his beloved on the palms of his hands, so that she may always be before him: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me” (Is 49:16). Elsewhere he emphasises the strength and steadfastness of his invincible love:
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken” (Is 54:10). For him, you have meaning; you are not insignificant. You are important to him, because you are the work of his hands.
CHRIST SAVES YOU
Through his love, Christ sacrificed himself completely in order to save us. His hands, stretched wide open on the cross, are the greatest sign that He is ready to give everything for us: “Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (Jn 13:1). St Paul said that his life was one of complete trust in this self-emptying love. Today, Jesus continues to save us and redeem us from our sins through the power of His total gift of self. Whatever we do, He will always love us and save us. Only what is loved can be redeemed. Only what is embraced can be transformed. God’s love is greater than our problems, but it is precisely within those problems that He wishes to write this story of His love. To explain this, Pope Francis uses the examples of the Prodigal Son and of Peter denying Jesus. He tells us that the worst fall in life is not our sins themselves, but when we remain fallen and refuse to let ourselves be lifted up again. Forgiveness and salvation cannot be bought with money. We can only receive them with deep gratitude and joy, knowing that we are loved far more than we could ever imagine.
HE IS ALIVE
This truth cannot be separated from the second one. We must keep reminding ourselves of this, for we risk seeing Jesus only as a figure of the past, someone who saved us two thousand years ago. If we see him only in that way, it does us no good, changes nothing in us, and does not free us. What fills us with grace, what saves us, transforms us, heals us and comforts us, is that he is truly alive. Alive, and able to be present in your life at every moment, filling it with light and removing sadness and loneliness. Even if everyone abandons you, he is always with you, just as he promised: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt 28:20). Since he lives, there is no doubt that goodness will have the last word in your life. Meeting, befriending, relating to, and opening your heart to the living Christ is a profound experience that can sustain you throughout your entire Christian life.
In these three truths we see God the Father and Jesus. And wherever the Father and the Son are, there too is the Holy Spirit. He is the One who quietly opens hearts to receive this message. He keeps our hope in salvation alive, and he will help you grow in joy if you remain open to his work within you.
Mikael Paul Fenech
SDC Candidate
