Pope: Pray for Christian unity and for peace
Below is a translation of the Holy Father’s Angelus reflection:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today the liturgy proposes the passage of the wedding at Cana, an episode narrated by John, an eyewitness of the incident. This episode has been placed on this Sunday immediately following Christmas time because, along with the visit of the Magi from the East and the Baptism of Jesus, form the trilogy of Epiphany, ie the manifestation of Christ. That of the wedding at Cana is in fact "the beginning of the signs" (Jn 2:11), that is the first miracle performed by Jesus, with whom he appeared in public, his glory, provoking the faith of his disciples. Let us recall briefly what happened during the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. It happened that it was the wine gave out, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, he pointed out to her Son. He replied that it was not yet his time, but then followed the solicitation of Mary, and made six large jars filled with water, turned water into wine, fine wine, better than the last. With this "sign", Jesus reveals himself as the Bridegroom Messiah, came to establish his people the new and eternal covenant, in the words of the prophets: "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you" (Is 62:5). And the wine is a symbol of this joy of love, but it also alludes to the blood that Jesus will pay in the end, to seal his marriage covenant with humanity.
The Church is the bride of Christ, who makes holy and beautiful with its grace. However, this spouse, formed by human beings, is always in need of purification. And one of the most serious sins that disfigure the face of the Church is against its visible unity, especially the historical divisions that have separated Christians and who have not yet been overcome. Just this week, January 18 to 25, held the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a moment always welcome to believers and communities, which awakens in all the desire and spiritual commitment to the full communion. In this sense, it was very significant that I could celebrate the vigil about a month ago, in this square, with thousands of young people across Europe and the ecumenical community of Taizé: a moment of grace in which we experienced the beauty of form in Christ one. I encourage everyone to pray together so that we can achieve, "What does the Lord require of us" (cf. I 6.6 to 8), says this year the theme of the week, a theme espoused by some Christian communities in India, which invite to engage with decision towards the visible unity of all Christians, and to overcome, as brothers in Christ, any kind of unjust discrimination. On Friday, at the end of these days of prayer, I will preside at Vespers in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, in the presence of representatives of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities.
Dear friends, to pray for Christian unity would add once again that for peace because, unfortunately, in the different conflicts in place to halt the despicable massacres of unarmed civilians, to end all violence, and find the courage dialogue and negotiation. For both of these intentions, we invoke the intercession of Mary, mediator of Grace.
Today the liturgy proposes the passage of the wedding at Cana, an episode narrated by John, an eyewitness of the incident. This episode has been placed on this Sunday immediately following Christmas time because, along with the visit of the Magi from the East and the Baptism of Jesus, form the trilogy of Epiphany, ie the manifestation of Christ. That of the wedding at Cana is in fact "the beginning of the signs" (Jn 2:11), that is the first miracle performed by Jesus, with whom he appeared in public, his glory, provoking the faith of his disciples. Let us recall briefly what happened during the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. It happened that it was the wine gave out, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, he pointed out to her Son. He replied that it was not yet his time, but then followed the solicitation of Mary, and made six large jars filled with water, turned water into wine, fine wine, better than the last. With this "sign", Jesus reveals himself as the Bridegroom Messiah, came to establish his people the new and eternal covenant, in the words of the prophets: "As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you" (Is 62:5). And the wine is a symbol of this joy of love, but it also alludes to the blood that Jesus will pay in the end, to seal his marriage covenant with humanity.
The Church is the bride of Christ, who makes holy and beautiful with its grace. However, this spouse, formed by human beings, is always in need of purification. And one of the most serious sins that disfigure the face of the Church is against its visible unity, especially the historical divisions that have separated Christians and who have not yet been overcome. Just this week, January 18 to 25, held the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, a moment always welcome to believers and communities, which awakens in all the desire and spiritual commitment to the full communion. In this sense, it was very significant that I could celebrate the vigil about a month ago, in this square, with thousands of young people across Europe and the ecumenical community of Taizé: a moment of grace in which we experienced the beauty of form in Christ one. I encourage everyone to pray together so that we can achieve, "What does the Lord require of us" (cf. I 6.6 to 8), says this year the theme of the week, a theme espoused by some Christian communities in India, which invite to engage with decision towards the visible unity of all Christians, and to overcome, as brothers in Christ, any kind of unjust discrimination. On Friday, at the end of these days of prayer, I will preside at Vespers in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, in the presence of representatives of other Churches and Ecclesial Communities.
Dear friends, to pray for Christian unity would add once again that for peace because, unfortunately, in the different conflicts in place to halt the despicable massacres of unarmed civilians, to end all violence, and find the courage dialogue and negotiation. For both of these intentions, we invoke the intercession of Mary, mediator of Grace.
