Pope Francis invites us to ‘enter the inner desert’
This Sunday, February 18, on the occasion of the First Sunday of Lent, in an emotional address, Pope Francis urged believers around the world to take advantage of this religious time to “enter the desert”, taking a spiritual journey within themselves. From St. Peter’s Square, before praying the Angelus, the Supreme Pontiff reflected on the deeper meaning of Lent, inspired by the experience of Jesus’ temptation in the desert, as recorded in the Gospel according to St. Mark (Mark 1:12-15). It has been told.
Pope Francis highlighted that, like Jesus, everyone is called to confront their own inner “animals” during Lent, recognizing them as the disordered passions that dominate our existence. Threatens to happen. ,They fascinate us, they seem attractive, but they risk destroying us.” He warned, citing greed, pride and avarice as clear examples of these evils.
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However, the desert is not the only home to adversity. Pope Francis also spoke about “angels” who, in a symbolic sense, accompany the believers in this spiritual retreat, acting as God’s messengers and reminding them of the good inspirations of the Holy Spirit. “While temptations break us, good divine inspirations unite us and bring us into harmony,” the pontiff said, stressing the importance of service and prayer as antidotes against material and spiritual possession.
(You may be interested in: Psalm 91: What is the best time to pray and is it effective?).
As soon as you finish your message, Pope Francis invited the faithful to pay attention to their own disordered passions that disturb inner peace and devote time to silence and prayer. The invitation to retreat to the interior “desert” is echoing. Likewise, he entrusted the Virgin Mary, her example of purity and resistance to temptation, to guide and protect all in their Lenten journey toward deep and vital spiritual renewal.
Words of Pope Francis
“Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, on the first Sunday of Lent, the Gospel tells us of Jesus’ temptation in the desert (cf. Mack 1:12-15). The text says: “…in the wilderness, where he remained forty days and was tempted by the devil.” In Lent we are also invited to “enter the desert”, that is, to get into silence, into the inner world, to listen to the heart, to get in touch with the truth. In the desert – today’s gospel adds – Christ “dwelt among wild animals, and angels ministered to him.” (v. 13). Beasts and angels were his company. But, in a symbolic sense, they are also our company: when we enter the inner desert, we can, indeed, encounter wild animals and angels.
(Be sure to read: Can you ask for leave from work for Ash Wednesday? That’s what the law says).
Animal. In what ways? In the spiritual life we can think of them as disordered passions that divide our heart, trying to take over it. They fascinate us, they seem attractive, but, if we are not careful, they risk destroying us. We can name these “animals” of the spirit: Various evils, the desire for wealth, which imprisons calculation and dissatisfaction, the vanity of pleasures, which leads one to restlessness and loneliness, and then also the greed for fame, which generates insecurity and a constant need for validation and heroism. Have – Let’s not forget these things that we can find within ourselves: greed, pride and greed. They are like “jungle” animals and as such, we must tame them and combat them: otherwise, they will eat away our freedom. And Lent helps us enter into the inner desert, to get these things right.
And then, there were angels in the desert. They are God’s messengers, who help us, do good to us; In fact, according to the Gospel it is characterized by service (cf.v.13): the very opposite of possession, characterized by passion. Service versus possession. Angel spirits remember good thoughts and feelings suggested by the Holy Spirit. While temptations break us, good divine inspirations unite us and enter us into harmony: they soothe the heart, they fill the taste of Christ, the “taste of heaven.” And to receive God’s inspiration, you have to remain silent in prayer. And Lent is the time to do so.
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