Today the Pope reflected on Saint Paulâ??s First Letter to the Thessalonians. 'The Apostle writes to confirm to them in its faith in Christâ??s death and resurrection, but he also speaks of the meaning of this mystery for the life of each believerâ?, he started.
'Before the mystery of death, and the loss of our loved ones, we Christians are challenged to hope more firmly in the Lordâ??s promise of eternal lifeâ?, Pope Francis said.
He remembered that 'because Christ
is risen, the object of our hope is certainâ?. So, 'Christian hope is a way of life; we live daily in expectation of the resurrectionâ?.
EXCERPTS FROM THE POPE'S CATECHESIS
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In our continuing catechesis on Christian hope, today we turn to the earliest writing of the New Testament, Saint Paulâ??s First Letter to the Thessalonians.
The Apostle writes to confirm this young Christian community in its faith in Christâ??s death and resurrection, but he also speaks of the meaning of this mystery for the life of each believer. For Christ is the first fruits of the future resurrection.
Before the mystery of
death, and the loss of our loved ones, we Christians are challenged to hope more firmly in the Lordâ??s promise of eternal life. Paul tells the Thessalonians to wear the hope of salvation like a helmet (1 Thess 5:8), in the knowledge that, because Christ
is risen, the object of our hope is certain.
Christian hope, then, is a way of life; we live daily in expectation of the resurrection. In that same hope, and in the communion of the Church, we pray too that those who have gone before us will live
for ever in Christ.
Let us ask the Lord to strengthen us in the sure expectation that one day we will be united with him, and all our loved ones, in the joy of the resurrection.
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in todayâ??s Audience, particularly the groups from Korea and the United States of America. I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. Upon all of
you, and your families, I cordially invoke an abundance of joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
