Pope Francis: Even the greatest believer goes through the tunnel of doubt

Angelus crowds in St Peter's Square - screenshot

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis began his Angelus address with pilgrims in St Peter's Square, with a reflection on the Gospel for the Third Sunday of Advent which describes how John the Baptist in prison sends his disciples to ask Jesus if He really is the Messiah.

The Gospel notes that the prison is more than a physical place, he said. We can imagine the inner confine that the Baptist is experiencing, where there can be darkness, unknowing and difficulty seeing clearly. The Pope said in John's case, it is as if he is no longer able to see in Jesus the awaited Messiah, and out of doubt sends his disciples to verify it.

This appears rather surprising to us, since John had baptized Jesus in the Jordan and told his disciples He is the Lamb of God. "But this means that even the greatest believer goes through the tunnel of doubt. This is not a bad thing; on the contrary, sometimes it is essential for spiritual growth: it helps us understand that God is always greater than we imagine Him to be," he said.

We need to always be open to surprise about how God works and how His actions are different from how we would presume they would be, exceeding our needs and expectations, the Pope said. So we need to seek the Lord always, keep our eyes open, and be changed by Him. Recalling the work of theologian Henri de Lubac, he said that God needs to be rediscovered in a series of stages, sometimes with the idea that we may be losing Him. Like John the Baptist, may we too rediscover Him, also by opening our minds and not letting our ideas and mindsets limit our understanding.

At times we also may not see any newness in the Lord, the Pope suggested, and be held captive by our thinking that we know so much already about Him. Perhaps we see a powerful God only but overlook His humble meekness, mercy and love, "who always intervenes respecting our freedom and our choices," he added. Our ideas or biases about God and even others need to be challenged, he said, and Advent is an ideal time for "overturning our perspectives, for letting ourselves be surprised by God's mercy."

After the Angelus the Pope mentioned the beautification of Isabel Cristina Mrad Campos in Barbacena in Brazil, on Saturday. Isabel was killed in 1982 at the age of twenty, in hatred of the faith.

He expressed his concern and sorrow over the violent clashes that have taken place in South Sudan recently.

He also mentioned that it was World Mountain Day, with the theme this year of 'Women move mountains' recognising the important role women play in protecting the environment.

Hundreds of families had come with children carrying little crib models of Baby Jesus to be blessed. The Pope greeted the children and wished them and their families a blessed Christmas, before blessing the figures - which will now be taken home and placed in the family cribs

Pope Francis said: "I invite you to pray, before the creche, that the Nativity of the Lord will bring a ray of peace to children all over the world, especially those forced to live the terrible and dark days of war, this war in Ukraine that destroys many lives, so many lives, and many children."

Watch the Angelus on Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxwWtSpkft4

Read the full text of Pope Francis' address: www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2022/documents/20221211-angelus.html