Pope Francis: What is Jesus saying to me today?

Source: Vatican News Service

Pope Francis celebrated Mass in the Roman parish of Saint Gelasius I, on Sunday afternoon. During his homily, reflecting on the Gospel of the Transfiguration, he said Jesus was preparing the disciples for what was to come showing them that He would be in glory after the Passion. They imagined a "triumphant" Messiah, but "Jesus triumphed by humiliation, by the humiliation of the cross."

God "always prepares us, in one way or another, for trials. He "gives us the strength to go through moments of trial and overcome them," "Jesus doesn't leave us alone in the trials of life . . . never."

Pope Francis noted that in the Gospel the Father urges them "Listen to Him." "There is not a moment in life that one can live fully without "listening to Jesus," both in beautiful as well as in hard moments," he said.

"Jesus speaks to us in the Gospel, in the Liturgy . . . or in our heart. Ask yourselves in daily life, "What is Jesus saying to me today? . . . He tells us what we must do - always."

When he arrived, the Pope was welcomed by children and young people with their families, in the sports area decorated with hundreds of white and yellow balloons. Joking about the rainy weather, he said: "Life is a bit like this afternoon, because at times there is sun, but at others clouds, rain and bad weather arrive."

"What must a Christian do?" He must continue with courage, in good times and bad times. There will be storms in life . . . go on! Jesus leads us." Pope Francis advise the children and the young people: "Always take Jesus' hand."

The Holy Father went on to elderly and sick parishioners. He greeted them one by one and talked with each person. And he said: "I would like to thank you for what you do for the world and for what you do for the Church. One might ask the question: "But what do I do for the world? I don't go to the United Nations, I don't go to meetings . . . I'm here, at home." But the Pope encouraged them to be "embers." "Your are the embers, the embers of the world under the ashes. Under difficulties, under wars, there are these embers, embers of faith, embers of hope, embers of hidden joy. Please, protect the embers, those that you have in your heart, by your witness."

Despite the present problems and those to come, it's about "being conscious that one has a mission, in the world and in the Church: to make that hidden fire live, the fire of a life."

During his visit Pope Francis had a private meeting some people supported by the local Caritas, and two young Gambian refugees. He also heard some Confessions in the sacristy.