The Friday Edition


The Evangelical Pope | An Echo of Grace

August 28, 2023

Living Words from John Paul II

Edited by Abraham A. van Kempen

 

Published Sunday, December 12, 2021 


Each week we let Saint Pope John Paul II share meaningful signposts to spark socio-economic resolves through justice and righteousness combined with mercy and compassion; in short, love.

 

 

               6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  

               9 … Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father ...  

                John 14

 

Vatican, Saturday, 16 March 1991 | This year, the bicentenary of Mozart's death calls our attention to the message of joy conveyed by his work. He points to a feeling of happiness, like a simultaneous experience of death and resurrection. Many perceive in it, especially in religious compositions, a true song of joy for creation redeemed and reconciled with God, an echo of grace, an inexhaustible source.

 

The sharing of faith needs to become once again a sharing of joy. Dialogue, which sometimes dries up in the exchange of ideas, can find a privileged inspiration in wonder at artistic beauty, a reflection of the eternal and unspeakable beauty of God. 1

 

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Editor's note | What is the 'Way,' the 'Life,' the 'Truth?'

 

               Humility

 

               Obedience

 

               Sacrifice 

 

               12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing (John 14: 12)

 

Who is perfectly humble, obedient, sacrificial?

 

Not one person!

 

What is the 'Way,' the 'Life,' and the 'Truth?' Unconditional GRACE!!!

 

               "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23: 34)"

 

Even if you don't disserve forgiveness, you're forgiven.

 

How do you get to the Father? Through Grace!

 

That’s the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus (God in the flesh).

 

In His presence there’s fullness of joy (Psalm 16: 11).” SALVATION means God is in you and you are in God (on earth as in heaven).

 

               10 “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?” (John 14: 10)

 

To quote Saint Pope John Paul II: “The sharing of faith needs to become once again a sharing of joy.” 1

 

Salvation comes from the word ‘salve:’ balm, healing oils, ointment, ‘the anointing.’

 

Wear your ‘Helmet of Salvation,’ (Ephesians 6: 16-17) and let the salve – healing oils, the anointment – pour from head to toe and feel God’s Spirit envelope you in His Holy Presence, the Fullness of Joy.

 

Read more: John 14

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Excerpted from (translated from French):

 

DISCOURS DU SAINT-PÈREJEAN-PAUL II AUX PARTICIPANTS À L'ASSEMBLÉE PLÉNIÈRE DU CONSEIL PONTIFICAL POUR LE DIALOGUE AVEC LES NON-CROYANTS, Salle du Consistoire, Samedi, 16 mars 1991


https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/fr/speeches/1991/march/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_19910316_pont-cons-non-credenti.html