Pope reflects on challenges of constantly living the faith 'today'
CWN - January 28, 2013
At his midday audience on Sunday, January 27, Pope Benedict XVI said that the day’s Gospel challenges Catholics to live out their faith fully today.
Invoking the old Latin motto, Carpe diem, the Pope said that Christians should understand that phrase to mean “seize the day that God calls on you to offer you salvation.”
The day’s Gospel reading was from St. Luke, recounting Christ’s preaching in the synagogue at Nazareth, and saying, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” The Pope recalled that St. Cyril of Alexandria interpreted “today” in that context to mean the entire time between Christ’s birth and the Second Coming. Pope Benedict added: “However, an even more radical meaning is that Jesus himself is the 'today' of salvation history because He completes the fullness of redemption."
The Gospel story reminds Christians of the duty to live the Sabbath properly, just as Jesus lived the rhythms of worship in his Jewish community, the Pope said. It also reminds us of the importance of listening for the word that God may send to us on this or any day.
After leading the recitation of the Angelus, the Pope released two doves from the window of his apartment in the apostolic palace, in an annual observance for the Caravan of Peace organized by Catholic Action in Italy. The gesture almost took on an ominous tone when one of the doves was attacked by an aggressive seagull just outside the Pope’s window, but the dove eventually escaped.
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