St. Peter's Square
Wednesday, 1 May 2019
Catechesis on the "Our Father": 14. Do not abandon us to temptation
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
We continue in the catechesis on the "Our Father", arriving now at the penultimate invocation: "Do not abandon us to temptation" (Mt 6:13). Another version says: "Don't let us fall into temptation". The "Our Father" begins in a serene way: it makes us wish that God's great project can be accomplished among us. Then he takes a look at life, and asks us what we need every day: the "daily bread". Then the prayer turns to our interpersonal relationships, often polluted by selfishness: we ask forgiveness and we commit ourselves to give it. But it is with this penultimate invocation that our dialogue with the heavenly Father enters, so to speak, at the heart of the drama, that is, on the terrain of confrontation between our freedom and the snares of the evil one.
As is well known, the original Greek expression contained in the Gospels is difficult to render exactly, and all modern translations are somewhat limping. On one element, however, we can unanimously converge: however we understand the text, we must exclude that it is God who is the protagonist of the temptations that hang over the path of man. As if God were lurking to lay traps and pitfalls on his children. An interpretation of this kind contrasts above all with the text itself, and it is far from the image of God that Jesus revealed to us. Let us not forget: the "Our Father" begins with "Father". And a father does not make pitfalls for his children. Christians have nothing to do with an envious God, in competition with man, or who enjoys putting him to the test. These are the images of many pagan deities. We read in the Letter of James the Apostle: "No one, when tempted, should say:" I am tempted by God "; because God cannot be tempted to evil and he does not tempt anyone "(1:13). Rather the opposite: the Father is not the author of evil, no son who asks for a fish gives a snake (see Lk 11,11) - as Jesus teaches - and when evil appears in man's life, he fights against his side, so that he can be freed. A God who always fights for us, not against us. And the father! It is in this sense that we pray the "Our Father".
These two moments - the trial and the temptation - have been mysteriously present in the life of Jesus himself. In this experience the Son of God became completely our brother, in a way that almost touches the scandal. And it is precisely these Gospel passages that show us that the most difficult invocations of the "Our Father", those that close the text, have already been answered: God has not left us alone, but in Jesus he manifests himself as the "God-with-God". us ”to the extreme consequences. He is with us when he gives us life, he is with us during life, he is with us in joy, he is with us in trials, he is with us in sadness, he is with us in defeats, when we sin, but he is always with us, because he is a Father and cannot abandon us.
If we are tempted to do evil, denying fraternity with others and desiring absolute power over everything and everyone, Jesus has already fought this temptation for us: the first pages of the Gospels attest. Immediately after receiving the baptism from John, in the midst of the crowd of sinners, Jesus retires to the desert and is tempted by Satan. Thus begins the public life of Jesus, with the temptation that comes from Satan. Satan was present. Many people say: "But why talk about the devil which is an ancient thing? The devil does not exist ". But look at what the Gospel teaches you: Jesus confronted the devil, he was tempted by Satan. But Jesus rejects every temptation and comes out victorious. The Gospel of Matthew has an interesting note that closes the duel between Jesus and the Enemy: "Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came to him and served him" (4:11).
But even in the time of the supreme trial God does not leave us alone. When Jesus retires to pray in Gethsemane, his heart is invaded by an unspeakable anguish - he says to his disciples - and he experiences solitude and abandonment. Alone, with the responsibility of all the sins of the world on your shoulders; alone, with unspeakable anguish. The proof is so lacerating that something unexpected happens. Jesus never begs love for himself, yet on that night he feels his soul sad until death, and then asks for the closeness of his friends: "Stay here and watch with me" (Mt 26:38). As we know, the disciples, weighed down by a numbness caused by fear, fell asleep. In the time of agony, God asks man not to abandon him, and man instead sleeps. In the time in which man knows his trial, God instead watches. In the worst moments of our lives, in the most suffering moments, in the most distressing moments, God watches with us, God fights with us, is always close to us. Why? Because he is Father. So we started the prayer: "Our Father". And a father does not abandon his children. That night of pain of Jesus, of struggle, are the last seal of the Incarnation: God descends to find us in our abysses and in the travails that dot history.
It is our comfort in the hour of trial: to know that that valley, since Jesus crossed it, is no longer desolate, but is blessed by the presence of the Son of God. He will never abandon us!
Therefore remove from us, O God, the time of trial and temptation. But when this time comes for us, our Father, show us that we are not alone. You are the Father. Show us that Christ has already taken upon himself the weight of that cross. Show us that Jesus calls us to carry it with him, trusting in your love as a Father. Thank you.
Greetings in Various Languages:
Je suis heureux de saluer les pèlerins venus de France et d’autres pays francophones, en particulier les pèlerins Troyes, les membres de l’Aumônerie Hmong de France et ceux des Foyers de Charité, ainsi que les jeunes venus de Carcassonne, Laval, Montpellier, Paris. A l’heure de l’épreuve et de la tentation, que le Seigneur nous manifeste sa présence et qu’il nous aide à nous abandonner confiants dans l’amour du Père. Que Dieu vous bénisse !
[Sono lieto di salutare i pellegrini dalla Francia e da altri paesi francofoni, in particolare quelli di Troyes, i membri della cappellania di Hmong di Francia e quelli dei Foyer de Charité, così come i giovani di Carcassonne, Laval, Montpellier e Parigi. Nell'ora della prova e della tentazione, lasciate che il Signore vi mostri la sua presenza e vi aiuti ad abbandonarvi fiduciosi all'amore del Padre. Dio vi benedica!]
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from England, Scotland, Denmark, Finland, Cameroon, Japan, India, Indonesia, Canada and the United States of America. In the joy of the Risen Christ, I invoke upon you and your families the loving mercy of God our Father. May the Lord bless you all!
[Saluto i pellegrini di lingua inglese presenti all’Udienza odierna, specialmente quelli provenienti da Inghilterra, Scozia, Danimarca, Finlandia, Camerun, Giappone, India, Indonesia, Canada e Stati Uniti d’America. Nella gioia del Cristo Risorto, invoco su di voi e sulle vostre famiglie l’amore misericordioso di Dio nostro Padre. Il Signore vi benedica!]
Herzlich grüße ich die Pilger deutscher Sprache, insbesondere die Gruppe der ständigen Diakone aus dem Bistum Augsburg in Begleitung von Weihbischof Florian Wörner. Bleiben wir immer mit dem auferstandenen Herrn vereint, dem Sieger über Sünde und Tod, damit auch wir mit der Hilfe seiner Gnade jede Versuchung und Prüfung überwinden und so in seiner Liebe wachsen können.
[Saluto cordialmente i pellegrini di lingua tedesca, in particolare il gruppo dei Diaconi permanenti della Diocesi di Augsburg, accompagnato dal Vescovo Ausiliare Mons. Florian Wörner. Teniamoci sempre uniti al Signore Risorto, vincitore sul peccato e sulla morte, e, con l’aiuto della sua grazia, poter anche noi superare ogni tentazione e prova e così crescere nel suo amore.]
Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española venidos de España y de Latinoamérica, en modo particular a los sacerdotes de la Diócesis de Cartagena, acompañados por su obispo, Mons. José Manuel Lorca Planes. Pidamos al Señor que aleje de nosotros todo tipo de tentación y que sepamos percibir su presencia a nuestro lado en todo momento de nuestra vida. Dios siempre nos acompaña y hace más ligero el peso de nuestra cruz. Que el Señor los bendiga.
Amados peregrinos de língua portuguesa, em particular os da diocese de Caratinga e das paróquias de Almada e de São Pedro da Cova, sede benvindos! A ressurreição de Cristo abriu a estrada para além da morte; temos a estrada desimpedida até ao Céu. Que nada vos impeça de viver e crescer na amizade do Pai Celeste, e testemunhar a todos a sua bondade e misericórdia! Sobre vós e vossas famílias desça, abundante, a sua Bênção.
[Cari pellegrini di lingua portoghese, in particolare quelli della diocesi di Caratinga e delle parrocchie di Almada e di São Pedro da Cova, benvenuti! La risurrezione di Cristo ha aperto la strada oltre la morte; abbiamo la strada libera fino al Cielo. Nulla possa impedirvi di vivere e crescere nell'amicizia del Padre celeste e di rendere testimonianza a tutti della sua bontà e misericordia! Su di voi e sulle vostre famiglie scenda, abbondante, la sua Benedizione.]
أُرحّبُ بالحجّاجِ الناطقينَ باللّغةِ العربيّة، وخاصةً بالقادمينَ من الشرق الأوسط. أيّها الإخوةُ والأخواتُ الأعزّاء، تذكّروا على الدوام أنَّ الله لا يتركنا وحدنا أبدًا في زمن التجربة العظيمة بل يسهر وينزل ليلتقي بنا في هاويتنا وفي المحن التي ترافق تاريخنا. ليبارككم الرب!
[I warmly welcome the Arabic-speaking pilgrims, especially those from the Middle East! Dear brothers and sisters, always remember that in the time of the supreme trial God does not leave us alone; He watches and goes down to find us in our abysses and in the travails that dot history. The Lord bless you!]
Witam serdecznie pielgrzymów polskich. Liturgiczne wspomnienie Świętego Józefa, rzemieślnika wprowadza nas w maryjny miesiąc maj. Podczas tradycyjnych nabożeństw majowych zwierzajcie Matce Bożej sprawy osobiste, rodzinne, waszych bliskich. Módlcie się za Kościół, Ojczyznę, o pokój w świecie. Niech Maryja, Królowa Polski, której Uroczystość przypada pojutrze, wspiera was i prowadzi. Niech będzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus.
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Today marks the fifth centenary of the Canonization of St. Francis of Paola, Founder of the Order of Minims, Patron of Calabria and of the Italian People of the Sea. I would like to exhort his spiritual children and all those who have him as heavenly Patron, to put into practice his message of "continuous conversion", which still speaks to us today of unconditional love for God, for brothers and for creation.
I also remember that next Sunday the Day for the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart is celebrated in Italy. May this Athenaeum continue its service ever better for the formation of young people, in a constant dialogue between faith and the demands of the contemporary world.
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I warmly welcome the Italian-speaking pilgrims.
I am pleased to welcome the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Capuchin Friars.
I greet the parish groups, in particular those of Acilia, Caserta, Andria and Altino; the Pontinia Scout Group and the Ticinese Christian-Social Organization.
I am particularly interested in young people, the elderly, the sick and newlyweds. Today we celebrate the memory of St. Joseph the worker, patron of the universal Church. The figure of Saint Joseph, the humble worker of Nazareth, guides us towards Christ, supports the sacrifice of those who do good and intercede for those who have lost their jobs or cannot find it. We pray especially for those who have no work, which is a global tragedy of these times.
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