Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Apolonio Latar III on B16
"Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life."
If we open ourselves totally to Jesus Christ, we might lose the arrogance, the impatience, the selfishness of the world, but not beauty and liberation. Beauty and liberation can only be found by making Jesus Christ our friend. We will receive what even our friends cannot give us. We will receive the joy we all long for. Jesus is not a type of friend who will betray us. Jesus is not a type of friend who will not forgive us if we ask for forgiveness. Jesus is not a type of friend who does not love us as much as we love Him. No. Jesus is a friend who loves us even more. Jesus is a friend who will forgive us because Mercy is His second name. Jesus is merciful. Jesus is kind. There is no sin He cannot forgive. And we know this. We know that Jesus is a friend we all long for. We know this because He can keep His promises. We know that He is with us always. We know that He promised us that the gates of hell will not prevail against us. We do not need to be afraid. We do not need to be afraid of our Holy Father. Jesus is a friend of ours who will not put us into despair. Jesus is a friend who watches us, especially our Holy Father. We do not need to be afraid. Jesus does not betray. Let us open wide the doors to Christ as our Holy Father teaches us. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' Let the hearer say, 'Come.' Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water" (Rev. 22:17).
If we open ourselves totally to Jesus Christ, we might lose the arrogance, the impatience, the selfishness of the world, but not beauty and liberation. Beauty and liberation can only be found by making Jesus Christ our friend. We will receive what even our friends cannot give us. We will receive the joy we all long for. Jesus is not a type of friend who will betray us. Jesus is not a type of friend who will not forgive us if we ask for forgiveness. Jesus is not a type of friend who does not love us as much as we love Him. No. Jesus is a friend who loves us even more. Jesus is a friend who will forgive us because Mercy is His second name. Jesus is merciful. Jesus is kind. There is no sin He cannot forgive. And we know this. We know that Jesus is a friend we all long for. We know this because He can keep His promises. We know that He is with us always. We know that He promised us that the gates of hell will not prevail against us. We do not need to be afraid. We do not need to be afraid of our Holy Father. Jesus is a friend of ours who will not put us into despair. Jesus is a friend who watches us, especially our Holy Father. We do not need to be afraid. Jesus does not betray. Let us open wide the doors to Christ as our Holy Father teaches us. "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' Let the hearer say, 'Come.' Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water" (Rev. 22:17).
