Thus, this Feast lets us see a double movement: in one direction, the movement of God towards the world, towards humanity — the whole of the history of salvation, which culminates in Jesus — and in the other, the movement of men towards God — let us think of religions, of the quest for truth, the journey of the nations toward peace, interior peace, justice, freedom. And this double movement is driven by a mutual attraction. What is it that draws God? It is love for us: we are his children, he loves us and wants to free us from evil, from sickness, from death, and to bring us to his home, to his Kingdom. “God, by his sheer grace, draws us to himself and makes us one with him” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, n. 112). And from us too there arises a love, a desire: the good always draws us, truth draws us, life, happiness, beauty attracts us… Jesus is the meeting point of this mutual attraction, of this double movement. He is God and man: Jesus. God and man. But who took the initiative? God, always! God’s love always comes before our own! He always takes the initiative. He waits for us, he invites us, the initiative is always his. Jesus is God made man, made flesh, he is born for us.
Angelus, January 6, 2014 - Pope Francis
The Magi symbolize the search and journey to God. There is an external element to this search. It includes the Church. Going out to Mass each Sunday does make our journey of faith an external reality. Many challenges face this journey, but they cannot compare with the reward of this journey. Attendance at Mass is not enough. The readings, the prayers, the music and the sacraments are food for an internal journey. We need to take what we have heard, to make it our own. This inward journey will enlighten us, change us, help us to be more holy. This external and internal journey are not two separate journeys. They are two dimensions of the same journey, the journey of faith.
Angelus, January 6, 2014 - Pope Francis
The Magi symbolize the search and journey to God. There is an external element to this search. It includes the Church. Going out to Mass each Sunday does make our journey of faith an external reality. Many challenges face this journey, but they cannot compare with the reward of this journey. Attendance at Mass is not enough. The readings, the prayers, the music and the sacraments are food for an internal journey. We need to take what we have heard, to make it our own. This inward journey will enlighten us, change us, help us to be more holy. This external and internal journey are not two separate journeys. They are two dimensions of the same journey, the journey of faith.