For the record the following is the English translation taken directly off the Vatican website at
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/cotidie/2017/docuмents/papa-francesco-cotidie_20170404_nel-segno-della-croce.htmlPOPE FRANCESCO
MORNING MEDITATION IN THE CHAPEL
DOMUS SANCTAE MARTHAE
In the sign of the cross
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
(from: L'Osservatore Romano, and everyday., Year CLVII, 79, 05/04/2017)Farsi "crossed" "the Christian symbol casually and flaunt" like "the badge of a team" or "an ornament", perhaps with "precious stones, Jєωels and gold", has nothing to do with ' the mystery "of Christ. So much so that Pope Francis has suggested an examination of conscience on the Cross, to see how each of us carries in everyday life the only real 'instrument of salvation'. Here are the reflections which the Pontiff offered the Mass celebrated on Tuesday morning, April 4, in Santa Marta.
"It attracts attention - noted immediately, referring to the step of the evangelist John (8: 21-30) - that in this short passage from the Gospel three times Jesus said to the lawyers, the scribes, Pharisees some: "You will die in your sins. '" He repeats "three times." And 'he says - he added - because they did not understand the mystery of Jesus, because they had closed their hearts and were not able to open a little', to try to understand the mystery that was the Lord. " In fact, the Pope explained, "die in your sin is a bad thing: it means that everything ends there, in the dirt of sin."
But then "this dialogue - in which Jesus repeats three times" die in your sins "- continues and, in the end, Jesus looks back at the history of salvation and reminds them something:" When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then know that I am and that I do nothing on my own. ' " The Lord says precisely: "When you have lifted up the Son of Man."
With these words - the Pope said, referring to the passage from the Book of Numbers (21: 4-9) - "Jesus reminds us what happened in the desert and we heard in the first reading." It is the moment when "bored people, the people who can not bear the way, turns away from the Lord, speaks evil of Moses and the Lord, and find those snakes that bite and cause the death." Then "the Lord told Moses to make a bronze serpent and raise it, and the person who suffers a snake wound, and that looks to bronze, will be healed."
"The snake - continued the Pope - is the symbol of evil, is the symbol of the devil: it was the most cunning animal in paradise." Because "the snake is one that is able to seduce with lies", he is "the father of lies: this is the mystery." But then "we have to look the devil to save us? The snake is the father of sin, what he did sinning humanity. " In fact, "Jesus says," When I am lifted up, everyone will come to me. " Obviously this is the mystery of the cross. "
"The bronze serpent healed - said Francesco - but the brazen serpent was a sign of two things: the sin made by the snake, the snake of seduction, of the serpent; and also was the signal of the cross of Christ, was a prophecy. " And 'why the Lord says to them: "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am.'" So we can say, the Pope said, that "Jesus has" made snake ", Jesus" became sin "and took upon himself the filth all of humanity, all the filth of sin. It was "made sin", was made to raise because all the people look at him, the wounded people from sin, us. This is the mystery of the cross and Paul says: "He made sin" and took the appearance of the father of sin, the crafty serpent. "
"Who did not look at the bronze serpent after being wounded by a snake in the desert - the Pontiff explained - died in sin, the sin of murmuring against God and Moses." Similarly, "who not recognize the man lifted up, like the snake, the strength of God who became sin to heal us, he will die in your sin." Because "salvation comes only from the cross, but this cross is God made flesh: there is no salvation in ideas, there is no salvation in good will, the desire to be good." In fact, the Pope insisted, "the only salvation is in Christ crucified, because only he, like the bronze serpent meant, was able to take all the poison of sin and healed us there."
"What is the cross for us?" Is the question posed by Francis. "Yes, it is the sign of Christians, is the Christian symbol, and we make the sign of the cross but do not always do well, sometimes we do so ... because we have this faith to the cross," said the Pope. the cross, then, he said, "for some people is a badge of belonging:" Yes, I carry the cross to show that I am a Christian. ' " It ''s fine, "but" not only as distinctive as if it were a team, a team badge';
But, said Francis, "as the memory of the man who became sin, who became the devil, snake, for us; It is lowered until totally annihilated. "
Moreover, it is true, "others carry the cross as an ornament, lead crosses with precious stones, to be seen." But, warned the Pontiff, "God said to Moses:" Who watches the snake will be healed "; Jesus says to his enemies: "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know. '" In essence, he said, "who does not look at the cross, so, with faith, will die in their sins, will not receive the salvation."
"Today - he raised the Pope - the Church proposes a dialogue with the mystery of the cross, with this God who became sin for the sake of me." And "each one of us can say:" for love of me. ' " So, he continued, you should ask: "How do I'll take the cross as a reminder? When I make the sign of the cross, I am aware of what I do? As I'll take the cross only as a symbol of belonging to a religious group? As I'll take the cross as an ornament, like a Jєωel with so many golden gems? ". Or "I've learned to take it on his shoulders, where it hurts?".
"Each of us today - suggested the Pope concludes his meditation - you look at the crucifix, watch this God who became sin because we do not die in our sins, and to respond to these questions that I have suggested."
© Copyright - Libreria Editrice Vaticana