Continuing his catechesis on prayer at the General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis reflects on “the prayer of praise,” which is possible in all circumstances because God is always faithful.
By Christopher Wells
Pope Francis reflected on the dimension of praise in prayer during Wednesday’s General Audience, taking as a starting point “a critical moment in the life of Jesus”.
At the beginning of His ministry, when He had already begun to preach the Kingdom of God and perform miracles, “ the Messiah’s mission is going through a crisis, ” the Pope said: John the Baptist doubts, while the people to whom He had preached hostility to Jesus and His message.
But “right at this disappointing moment,” said Pope Francis, “Jesus does not raise a lament for the Father, but rather a hymn of exultation … 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 he acknowledges “the Lord of all that exists,” as His Father. “Praise comes from His experience of feeling that He is ‘Son of the Most High,'” said the Pope.
God favors the little ones
In his prayer, Jesus continues to praise God “for favoring the little ones.” Pope Francis explained that Jesus saw in His ministry that those considered “wise” and “learned” responded with suspicion to His preaching, while the “little ones” were open to His message. “This can only be the will of the Father,” said the Pope, “and Jesus rejoices in this. We too should rejoice and praise God, for humble and simple people welcome the gospel. “
Jesus’ prayer of praise “in that moment of apparent failure” leads us to see our own failures in a different light, Pope Francis continued. He explained that praising God, especially “when it seems like evil is prevailing and there is no way to stop it,” is necessary not for God’s sake, but for ours.
Praising God in times of trial
The Pope quoted the catechism, which says that the prayer of praise “shares 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 times ” that we must praise God – precisely so that when we rise up to God, we will be able to ‘a new panorama, a broader horizon. “
The example of the saints
Saint Francis, in his song of praise to the beings – Laudato yes Provides an excellent example of praising God in difficult times.
The prayer was composed at the end of Francis’s life, when he was ravaged by difficulties. But at that moment, said Pope Francis, “praises the holy God for everything, for all the gifts of creation, and even for death, which he courageously calls” sister. “
The example of the saints, Pope Francis concluded, shows us “that we can always praise, in good times and bad, because God is the faithful Friend. This is the foundation of praise: God is the faithful Friend, and his love never fails. “