– Our joy and our greatness are based not on the passing illusions of success and fame, but on the awareness that we are loved and desired by our Father, who is in heaven – said the Holy Father in considering before the prayer “The Angel of the Lord” on 18 January.
The Pope pointed out the figure of St John the Baptist appearing in today's Gospel. He was a man very loved by the crowds—to the degree that he caused fear among the authorities of Jerusalem. And although he may have utilized that fame, he did not succumb to the temptation of success and popularity. Moreover, he recognized his smallness to Jesus and gave way to his greatness. For he knew that he had been sent to prepare the way of the Lord, and so erstwhile the Lord had come, with joy and humility he recognized his presence and came down from the stage.
Leon XIV referred this communicative to our excessive pursuit of acceptance of others. – This is due to the fact that frequently excessive importance is attached to recognition, acceptance and recognition, which affects people's views, behaviour and moods, causes suffering and divisions, leads to ephemeral, disappointing and enslaving lifestyles and relationships. In fact, we do not request these “replacements of happiness”. Our joy and our greatness are based not on the passing illusions of success and fame, but on the awareness that we are loved and desired by our Father, who is in heaven said the Pope.
The Holy Father besides emphasized that God does not want to amaze us with peculiar effects, but to share with us our difficulties and to take on our burdens; he wants to show us who we truly are and how much we mean in His eyes.
– Let us not be distracted erstwhile He passes. Let's not waste time and energy chasing what's just a appearance. Let us learn from John the Baptist how to stay vigilant of the spirit, loving things simple and sincere words, surviving in a average way and with a depth of head and heart, contenting ourselves with what is necessary, and trying to find all day a minute where we can stay silent for prayer, reflection, to perceive and, in short, "create a desert" to meet the Lord and to be with him. – the Holy Father appealed.
Source: KAI
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