VATICAN CITY (ZENIT) — Here is the translation of Pope Francis’ address before and after the recitation of the angelus to the pilgrims gathered in St.Peter’s Square on Sunday, August 25.
Dear brothers and sisters, hello! Today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on the topic of salvation. Jesus going up from Galilee to the city of Jerusalem and along the way someone — the evangelist Luke says — comes up to Him and asks Him: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” (Luke 13:23). Jesus does not answer the question directly. It is not important to know how many will be saved, rather, it is important to know the way to salvation. This is how Jesus responds to the question: “Try to enter by the narrow door, because many will try to enter but will not succeed” (Luke 13:24). What does Jesus wish to say? What is the door by which we should enter? And why does Jesus talk about a narrow door? The image of the door appears various times in the Gospel and reminds us of the door of a house, of the domestic hearth, where we find security, love, warmth. Jesus tells us that there is a door that permits us to enter into God’s family, in the warmth of the house of God, into communion with Him.
This door is Jesus Himself (cf. John 10:9). He is the door. He is the way of salvation. He leads us to the Father. And the door that is Jesus is never closed, this door is never closed; it is always open and to everyone, without distinction, without exclusions, without privileges, because, as you know, Jesus does not exclude anyone. One might try to tell me: “But, Father, surely I am excluded,
because I am a great sinner: I have done ugly things, many ugly things in my life.” No, you are not excluded! Precisely
because of this you are preferred, because Jesus prefers the sinner, always, to forgive him. Jesus is always waiting for you, to embrace
you, to forgive you. Do not be afraid: He is waiting for you. Wake up, take heart to enter His door. Everyone is invited to enter
by this door, to enter the door of faith, to enter into His life, and to let Him enter our life, so that He transform it, renew it, give us
complete and lasting joy.
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