Pope Francis: Jesus never abandons us and helps us face setbacks

In his words prior to praying the Angelus today in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Pope Francis assured that “Jesus does not spare us setbacks but, without ever abandoning us, he helps us face them.”

From the balcony of the Apostolic Palace, this afternoon, the Holy Father recalled that “today the Gospel presents us with Jesus in the boat with the disciples, on Lake Tiberias. Suddenly a strong storm arrives and the boat is in danger of sinking. Jesus, who was sleeping, wakes up, threatens the wind and everything returns to calm.”

“He doesn’t actually wake up, they wake him up. There was so much fear that the disciples woke up Jesus,” he said.

The Pope then noted that just “the night before, Jesus himself had told the disciples to get into the boat and cross the lake. They were experts, they were fishermen and that was their living environment; But a storm could put them in difficulties.”

“It seems that Jesus wants to test them,” indicated the Holy Father. “However, he does not leave them alone, he stays with them in the boat, calm, in fact, he even sleeps. And when the storm breaks out, with his presence he calms them, encourages them, incites them to have more faith and accompanies them beyond the danger.

“Why does Jesus behave like this?” the Pope asked. “To strengthen the faith of the disciples and to make them braver.”

“They, the disciples, in fact, come out of this experience more aware of the power of Jesus and his presence in their midst and, therefore, stronger and more willing to face other obstacles and difficulties, including the fear of venturing to proclaim the gospel. Having overcome this trial with Him, they will know how to face many others, even to the cross and martyrdom, to bring the Gospel to all peoples.”

Pope Francis then assured that “Jesus also does the same with us, particularly in the Eucharist: he gathers us around Himself, gives us His Word, feeds us with His Body and Blood, and then invites us to set out on our journey, to transmit to everyone what we have heard and to share with everyone what we have received, in everyday life, even when it is difficult.”

“Jesus does not spare us setbacks but, without ever abandoning us, he helps us face them. He makes us courageous. So we too, overcoming them with his help, learn more and more to embrace Him, to trust in His power, which goes beyond our capabilities, to overcome uncertainties and doubts, closed-mindedness and prejudices.

“And we must do this with courage and greatness of heart, to tell everyone that the Kingdom of Heaven is present, it is here, and that with Jesus at our side we can make it grow together, beyond all barriers,” he noted.

Next, the Holy Father encouraged us to ask ourselves: “in times of trial, am I able to remember the moments in my life in which I have experienced the presence and help of the Lord? When a storm comes, do I allow myself to be overwhelmed by the agitation, or do I cling to Him in these interior storms, right?, and cling to Him to find calm and peace in prayer, in silence, in listening. of the Word, in worship and in the fraternal sharing of faith?”

In concluding his message, Pope Francis asked “that the Virgin Mary, who accepted the will of God with humility and courage, grant us, in difficult moments, the serenity of abandonment in Him.”