Urges Renewal of Faith
NAZARETH, MAR 26 (ZENIT.org).- Yesterday the Pope visited the city of Jesus' boyhood, Nazareth, celebrating Mass in the Basilica of the Annunciation, where Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her that she was to be the Mother of the savior.
Several thousand gathered in the Basilica, despite heavy security and the ongoing tensions over the building of a mosque in the square. In fact, the Muslims had chosen to have their «tent mosque» in operation when the Pope arrived. During the Mass, the muezzin began to call local Muslims to prayer, but the celebration went on as scheduled
In his homily, the Holy Father connected the Feast of the Annunciation with the journey of faith of Abraham, whom he had celebrated previously in a «spiritual pilgrimage» to Ur of the Chaldeans, starting his Jubilee journey to the holy places. «That journey has brought us today to Nazareth, where we meet Mary, the truest daughter of Abraham,» he explained. «It is Mary above all others who can teach us what it means to live the faith of 'our father.' In many ways, Mary is clearly different from Abraham; but in deeper ways 'the friend of God' and the young woman of Nazareth are very alike.»
Each of these two received a promise from God, which became something completely unexpected. In both cases, the promise seemed impossible - Sarah was sterile, and Mary a virgin. How were they to give birth?
However, both of these models responded with a «yes.» «Like Abraham, Mary must walk through darkness, in which she must simply trust the One who called her. Yet even her question, 'How can this come about?', suggests that Mary is ready to say yes, despite her fears and uncertainties,» the Pope explained. «Mary asks not whether the promise is possible, but only how it will be fulfilled.»
The Holy Father urged his listeners to raise their prayers to Mary. «I pray, first, for a great renewal of faith in all the children of the Church. A deep renewal of faith: not just as a general attitude of life, but as a conscious and courageous profession of the Creed.»
John Paul II further consecrated the families of the Holy Land and of the whole world to the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God. He also prayed that Mary would «teach us the way of humble and joyful obedience to the Gospel in the service of our brothers and sisters, without preferences and without prejudices.»
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