Begin again: the exhortation resounded many times, clearly and loudly, in the Paul VI Hall packed with celebrating pilgrims and faithful, coming from Italy and all over the world, today 11 January, during the Jubilee Audience of Pope Francis , the first of a cycle of Saturday Audiences desired by the Pontiff which for the entire period of the Jubilee will take place every fifteen days following the same pattern as the Wednesday audiences.
In his speech focused on the figure of John the Baptist, the Pontiff explained that the hearings will be moments of reflection on hope, the theme of the Jubilee. «This morning we begin the Saturday jubilee audiences, which ideally aim to welcome and embrace all those who come from all over the world to seek a new beginning», said the Pope. «The Jubilee, in fact, is a new beginning, the possibility for everyone to start again from God. With the Jubilee we begin a new life, a new stage. On these Saturdays I would like to highlight, from time to time, some aspects of hope. It is a theological virtue. And in Latin virtus means “strength”; hope is a strength that comes from God. Hope, therefore, is not a habit or a character trait – which one has or does not have – but a strength to be asked for. This is why we become pilgrims: we come to ask for a gift, to start again on the path of life.”
Francis recalls that «we are about to celebrate the feast of the Baptism of Jesus and this makes us think of that great prophet of hope who was John the Baptist. Jesus said something wonderful about him: that he is the greatest among those born of women. We understand then why so many people flocked to him, with the desire for a new beginning, with the desire to start again. The Jubilee helps us in this. The Baptist appeared truly great and credible in his essentiality. Just as we cross the Holy Door today, so John proposed crossing the Jordan River, entering the Promised Land as had happened with Joshua the first time.”
The Holy Father continues: «Brothers and sisters, start again, this is the word, start again, receive the land all over again, like the first time». at this point the Pope addresses the faithful directly and urges them to repeat out loud, all together, the word “start again”, sparking a moment of joyful hilarity among those present. «But Jesus, immediately after that great compliment, adds something that makes us think: “I tell you: among those born of women there is no one greater than John, but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than him” . Hope, brothers and sisters, is all in this leap in quality. It does not depend on us, but on the Kingdom of God. Here’s the surprise: welcoming the Kingdom of God takes us into a new order of greatness. This is our world, we all need it!”. And once again Francis asks those present to repeat the verb “to begin again”.
«When Jesus pronounces those words, the Baptist is in prison, full of questions. We too bring many questions on our pilgrimage. And do you know why? Because there are many “Herods” who still oppose the Kingdom of God. Jesus, however, shows us the new path of the Beatitudes, which are the surprising law of the Gospel. We ask ourselves, then: do I have within me a real desire to start again? Think each of you: inside do I want to start over? Do I want to learn from Jesus who is truly great? The smallest, in the Kingdom of God, is great.” Again the Pope asks the faithful to shout “start again”.
«From John the Baptist, then, we learn to change our minds. The hope for our common home – this much abused and wounded Earth of ours – and the hope for all human beings lies in the difference of God. Its size is different. And we start again from this originality of God, which shone in Jesus and which now commits us to serve, to love fraternally, to recognize ourselves as small. And to see the little ones, to listen to them and be their voice. Here is our new beginning, this is our jubilee! And Francis concludes with the final exhortation to those present to shout all together: “Start again!”. Finally, Francis prayed once again for world peace, recalling that “war is always a defeat”.
(Reuters photo: the Pope greets the children during the Jubilee Audience in the Paul VI Hall)
