Pope Francis Recommends to Pray "Lord, save me!" "In the worst, darkest, stormy moments, invoke Jesus and welcome Jesus." FULL TEXT + Video
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POPE FRANCIS
ANGELUS
St. Peter's Square
Sunday, August 13, 2023
________________________________________
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today the Gospel narrates a particular prodigy of Jesus: at night, he walks on the waters of the lake of Galilee to meet the disciples who are making the crossing by boat (cf. Mt 14:22-33). We ask ourselves: why did Jesus do this? Like a show? No! But why? Perhaps out of an urgent and unpredictable need, to help his friends who find themselves blocked by a headwind? No, because it was He who planned everything, who made them leave in the evening, even - the text says - "forcing them" (cf. v. 22). Perhaps to give them a demonstration of greatness and power? But this is not from Him that is so simple. So why did he do it? Why did he want to walk on water?
Behind walking on water there is a non-immediate message, a message for us to grasp.
At that time, in fact, the great expanses of water were considered seats of evil forces that could not be dominated by man; especially if agitated by the storm, the abysses were a symbol of chaos and recalled the darkness of the underworld. Now, the disciples find themselves in the middle of the lake in the dark: in them there is the fear of sinking, of being sucked into evil. And here comes Jesus, who walks on the water, that is, on the forces of evil. He walks on the forces of evil and says to him: "Courage, it's me, don't be afraid!" (v. 27). It is all a message that Jesus gives us. Here is the meaning of the sign: the evil powers, which scare us and we are unable to dominate, are immediately reduced with Jesus. He, walking on the water, wants to tell us: "Do not be afraid, I will cast your enemies under your feet" - a beautiful message: "I will cast your enemies under your feet" -: not the people!, they are not the enemies, but death, sin, the devil - these are the enemies of the people, our enemies. And Jesus tramples these enemies on for us.
Today Christ repeats to each of us: "Courage, it's me, don't be afraid!". Courage, that is, because I am here, because you are no longer alone in the troubled waters of life. So what to do when we find ourselves out at sea and at the mercy of contrary winds? What to do in fear, which is an open sea, when you see only darkness and feel lost? We have to do two things, which the disciples do in the Gospel. What do the disciples do? They invoke and welcome Jesus. In the worst, darkest, stormy moments, invoke Jesus and welcome Jesus.
The disciples invoke Jesus: Peter walks a little on the water towards Jesus, but then gets frightened, sinks and then shouts: "Lord, save me!" (v. 30). Invoke Jesus, call Jesus. This prayer is beautiful, with which we express the certainty that the Lord can save us, that He conquers our evil and our fears. I invite you to repeat it now all together: Lord, save me! Together, three times: Lord save me, Lord save me, Lord save me!
And then the disciples welcome. First they invoke, then they welcome Jesus into the boat. The text says that, as soon as he got on board, "the wind stopped" (v. 32). The Lord knows that the boat of life, like the boat of the Church, is threatened by headwinds and that the sea on which we sail is often rough. He does not preserve us from the fatigue of sailing, on the contrary - the Gospel underlines this - he pushes his family to leave: that is, he invites us to face difficulties, so that they too may become places of salvation, since Jesus overcomes them, they become opportunities to encounter Him. In fact, in our moments of darkness, he comes to meet us, asking to be welcomed, like that night on the lake.
So let us ask ourselves: in fears, in difficulties, how do I behave? Do I go ahead alone, with my strength, or do I invoke the Lord with confidence? And how is my faith? Do I believe that Christ is stronger than the waves and adverse winds? But above all: do I sail with Him? Do I welcome him, do I make room for him in the boat of my life – never alone, always with Jesus – do I entrust him with the helm?
Mary, Mother of Jesus, Star of the Sea, help us to seek the light of Jesus in dark journeys.
____________________________
After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
Another tragic shipwreck occurred a few days ago in the Mediterranean: forty-one people lost their lives. I prayed for them. And with pain and shame we must say that since the beginning of the year almost two thousand men, women and children have already died in this sea trying to reach Europe. It is an open wound of our humanity. I encourage the political and diplomatic efforts that seek to heal it in a spirit of solidarity and brotherhood, as well as the commitment of all those who work to prevent shipwrecks and rescue migrants.
Tomorrow, the eve of the feast of Our Lady of the Assumption into Heaven, the pilgrimage to ask for peace in the country, still afflicted by violence and war, will take place in Bafoussam, Cameroon. Let us join in prayer with our brothers in Cameroon so that, through the intercession of the Virgin, God may sustain the hope of the people who have been suffering for years, and open ways of dialogue to reach harmony and peace.
And let us also pray for battered Ukraine, which is suffering so much from this war.
I also wish to assure you of my prayers for the victims of the fires which ravaged the island of Maui, in Hawaii.
I now address my greeting to all of you, Romans and pilgrims from various countries. I greet in particular some groups who took part in the Youth Day in Lisbon… They are many! I see flags… Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Italy, Salvador, many! The priests and young people of El Salvador who are so strong; students from the Ibero-American University of Puebla, Mexico; and Taiwanese youth. Good walk!
And I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don't forget to pray for me. Have a nice lunch and goodbye!
ANGELUS
St. Peter's Square
Sunday, August 13, 2023
________________________________________
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today the Gospel narrates a particular prodigy of Jesus: at night, he walks on the waters of the lake of Galilee to meet the disciples who are making the crossing by boat (cf. Mt 14:22-33). We ask ourselves: why did Jesus do this? Like a show? No! But why? Perhaps out of an urgent and unpredictable need, to help his friends who find themselves blocked by a headwind? No, because it was He who planned everything, who made them leave in the evening, even - the text says - "forcing them" (cf. v. 22). Perhaps to give them a demonstration of greatness and power? But this is not from Him that is so simple. So why did he do it? Why did he want to walk on water?
Behind walking on water there is a non-immediate message, a message for us to grasp.
At that time, in fact, the great expanses of water were considered seats of evil forces that could not be dominated by man; especially if agitated by the storm, the abysses were a symbol of chaos and recalled the darkness of the underworld. Now, the disciples find themselves in the middle of the lake in the dark: in them there is the fear of sinking, of being sucked into evil. And here comes Jesus, who walks on the water, that is, on the forces of evil. He walks on the forces of evil and says to him: "Courage, it's me, don't be afraid!" (v. 27). It is all a message that Jesus gives us. Here is the meaning of the sign: the evil powers, which scare us and we are unable to dominate, are immediately reduced with Jesus. He, walking on the water, wants to tell us: "Do not be afraid, I will cast your enemies under your feet" - a beautiful message: "I will cast your enemies under your feet" -: not the people!, they are not the enemies, but death, sin, the devil - these are the enemies of the people, our enemies. And Jesus tramples these enemies on for us.
Today Christ repeats to each of us: "Courage, it's me, don't be afraid!". Courage, that is, because I am here, because you are no longer alone in the troubled waters of life. So what to do when we find ourselves out at sea and at the mercy of contrary winds? What to do in fear, which is an open sea, when you see only darkness and feel lost? We have to do two things, which the disciples do in the Gospel. What do the disciples do? They invoke and welcome Jesus. In the worst, darkest, stormy moments, invoke Jesus and welcome Jesus.
The disciples invoke Jesus: Peter walks a little on the water towards Jesus, but then gets frightened, sinks and then shouts: "Lord, save me!" (v. 30). Invoke Jesus, call Jesus. This prayer is beautiful, with which we express the certainty that the Lord can save us, that He conquers our evil and our fears. I invite you to repeat it now all together: Lord, save me! Together, three times: Lord save me, Lord save me, Lord save me!
And then the disciples welcome. First they invoke, then they welcome Jesus into the boat. The text says that, as soon as he got on board, "the wind stopped" (v. 32). The Lord knows that the boat of life, like the boat of the Church, is threatened by headwinds and that the sea on which we sail is often rough. He does not preserve us from the fatigue of sailing, on the contrary - the Gospel underlines this - he pushes his family to leave: that is, he invites us to face difficulties, so that they too may become places of salvation, since Jesus overcomes them, they become opportunities to encounter Him. In fact, in our moments of darkness, he comes to meet us, asking to be welcomed, like that night on the lake.
So let us ask ourselves: in fears, in difficulties, how do I behave? Do I go ahead alone, with my strength, or do I invoke the Lord with confidence? And how is my faith? Do I believe that Christ is stronger than the waves and adverse winds? But above all: do I sail with Him? Do I welcome him, do I make room for him in the boat of my life – never alone, always with Jesus – do I entrust him with the helm?
Mary, Mother of Jesus, Star of the Sea, help us to seek the light of Jesus in dark journeys.
____________________________
After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
Another tragic shipwreck occurred a few days ago in the Mediterranean: forty-one people lost their lives. I prayed for them. And with pain and shame we must say that since the beginning of the year almost two thousand men, women and children have already died in this sea trying to reach Europe. It is an open wound of our humanity. I encourage the political and diplomatic efforts that seek to heal it in a spirit of solidarity and brotherhood, as well as the commitment of all those who work to prevent shipwrecks and rescue migrants.
Tomorrow, the eve of the feast of Our Lady of the Assumption into Heaven, the pilgrimage to ask for peace in the country, still afflicted by violence and war, will take place in Bafoussam, Cameroon. Let us join in prayer with our brothers in Cameroon so that, through the intercession of the Virgin, God may sustain the hope of the people who have been suffering for years, and open ways of dialogue to reach harmony and peace.
And let us also pray for battered Ukraine, which is suffering so much from this war.
I also wish to assure you of my prayers for the victims of the fires which ravaged the island of Maui, in Hawaii.
I now address my greeting to all of you, Romans and pilgrims from various countries. I greet in particular some groups who took part in the Youth Day in Lisbon… They are many! I see flags… Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Italy, Salvador, many! The priests and young people of El Salvador who are so strong; students from the Ibero-American University of Puebla, Mexico; and Taiwanese youth. Good walk!
And I wish you all a good Sunday. Please don't forget to pray for me. Have a nice lunch and goodbye!
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