Living is a gift from God to be shared, multiplying its beauty. Every connection with others is a thread that weaves the fabric of our existence, and by caring for our relationships we perfect ourselves in the art of loving, which is the reason for which we were created.
In the Jubilee Bull, Pope Francis invites us to take a new look, to overcome that which threatens what is most proper to us, what is most human and divine in us: the profound desire to transmit life.
“Looking to the future with hope also means having a vision of life full of enthusiasm to share with others. However, we must note with sadness…the loss of the desire to transmit life. Because of the frenetic rhythms…of social models whose agenda is dictated by the pursuit of personal profit rather than by the care of relationships, we are witnessing in several countries a worrying decline in the birth rate….
May the Christian community “work for a future characterized by the smiles of many children to come…we all, in fact, need to recover the joy of living, because human beings, created in the image and likeness of God, cannot be content to survive or to subsist mediocrely, …allowing themselves to be satisfied only by material realities. That locks us up in individualism and corrodes hope, generating a sadness that nestles in the heart, making us unpleasant and intolerant” Pope Francis.
The Way of the Heart also causes us to reflect:
“Modern man experiences a loss of meaning and vision in his life; …the numerous advances in various fields of science and technology have failed to satisfy the deep desire in him to love and to feel loved.” The Way of the Heart, Step 5
“The great challenge…is to find new ways to make life more human, dignified and healthy. …from the personal and irreplaceable encounter that we have with Jesus in prayer, the feelings and attitudes that stirred his Heart will flow from within us”. The Way of the Heart, Step 8.
Remember: the true meaning of your life is not only to live, but to live together with others, building a community that gives you both rich color and identity. Jesus helps you and counts on you.
International Editorial Team
Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network