Pope Francis continues his catechesis on prayer during the general audience on Wednesday and reflects on ‘the prayer of praise’, which is possible in every situation because God is always faithful.
By Christopher Wells
Pope Francis reflected in the General Audience on Wednesday on the dimension of praise in prayer, starting with “a critical moment in the life of Jesus.”
At the beginning of his ministry, when he had already begun to proclaim the Kingdom of God and performed miracles, ‘the mission of the Messiah is going through a crisis’, the pope said: John the Baptist expresses doubt, while the people to whom He preached showed enmity towards Jesus and his message.
But ‘precisely at this disappointing moment’, said Pope Francis, ‘Jesus does not raise a lament to the Father, but rather a song of praise of rejoicing … in the midst of a crisis, Jesus blesses the Father, He praises Him.’
God is praised for who He is
Jesus praises God for who He is and calls on Him as “Father, Lord of heaven and earth”. Jesus acknowledges his Father as Lord of the universe, and conversely acknowledges “the Lord of all things” as his Father. “Praise comes from his experience of feeling that he is ‘Son of the Most High,'” the pope said.
God benefits the little ones
In his prayer, Jesus continues to praise God ‘because he benefits the little ones’. Pope Francis explained that in his ministry Jesus saw those who were considered ‘wise’ and ‘learned’ responding with suspicion to his preaching, while the ‘little ones’ were open to his message. “It can only be the will of the Father,” said the pope, “and Jesus rejoices in this. We should also rejoice and praise God for humble and simple people welcoming the Gospel. ”
Jesus’ prayer of praise “at that moment of apparent failure” leads us to see our own failures in a different light, Pope Francis added. He explained that praising God, especially “when evil seems to prevail and there is no way to stop it,” not for God’s sake, but for our own.
God praises in times of trial
The pope quoted the catechism, which says that the prayer of praise “partakes in the blessed happiness of the pure in heart who love God in faith before they see him in glory.”
Paradoxically, he said, it is not only in times of happiness when we feel blessed, but especially “in difficult moments” that we should praise God – precisely so that we will be able to create a new panorama, a broader one. horizon. ”
The example of the Saints
Saint Francis, in his Canticle of the Creatures – Laudato sí – provides an excellent example of praising God during difficult times.
The prayer was composed at the end of Francis’ life, when he was plagued by problems. But at that moment, Pope Francis said, praise the holy God for everything, for all the gifts of creation and even for death, which he courageously succeeds in calling ‘sister’. ‘
The example of the saints, Pope Francis finally said, shows us’ that we can always give praise in good and bad times, because God is the faithful Friend. This is the foundation of praise: God is the faithful friend and his love never fails. ”