Pope Francis: open your hearts to faith

August 10, 2015

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel reading (John 6:41-51), Pope Francis spoke in his August 9 Angelus address about Christ’s words, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him.”

“It is not enough to meet Jesus to believe in him, not just in reading the Bible, the Gospel; not even enough in witnessing a miracle,” the Pope said to the crowds that had gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “So many people were in close contact with Jesus and did not believe. Indeed, they also despised and condemned him.”

He continued, “And I ask myself: Why? Were they not attracted by the Father? No, but because their hearts were closed to the action of the Spirit of God. If you keep your heart closed, the faith doesn't enter!”

The Pope added:

We open or close our hearts. But instead the faith, which is like a seed deep in the heart, blossoms when we allow ourselves to be "drawn" from the Father to Jesus, and "go to him" with an open mind, without prejudices; then we recognize in his face the face of God, and in his words, the Word of God, because the Holy Spirit has made us enter into the relationship of love and of life between Jesus and God the Father. So we receive the gift of the faith.

 

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Further information:

• Le parole del Papa alla recita dell’Angelus, 09.08.2015 (Holy See Press Office)
• Angelus Domini 2015.08.09 (Vatican YouTube)
• Zenit translation