CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- On Sunday Pope Francis stressed the priceless value of encountering Jesus, noting that Jesus\u2019 parables speak of those who are willing to trade everything for the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n\t\u201cHe who knows Jesus, who encounters him personally, remains fascinated and attracted by so much kindness, so much truth, so much beauty, and everything in great humility and simplicity,\u201d the Pope said July 27.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cLook for Jesus, meet Jesus: this is the great treasure!\u201d the Pope exhorted.<\/p>\n
\tSpeaking before the noontime Angelus prayers, he addressed thousands gathered in St. Peter\u2019s Square from his window in the Vatican\u2019s Apostolic Palace.<\/p>\n
\tThe Pope reflected on the two parables in the Sunday Mass reading from the Gospel of Matthew: the parable of the treasure discovered buried in a field and the parable of the pearl of great price.<\/p>\n
\tHe said these parables show that the discovery of the Kingdom of God can come \u201csuddenly,\u201d as when the farmer discovers unexpected treasure in a field and sells everything to buy it. The Kingdom of God can also come \u201cafter a long search,\u201d like the case of the merchant who sought a precious pearl.<\/p>\n
\tPope Francis stressed the primary lesson of both parables: the farmer and the merchant \u201cgive up everything else\u201d to buy what they have found.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThey do not need to reason, to think, to reflect: they realize immediately the incomparable value of what they have found, and are willing to lose everything to have it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cSo it is with the Kingdom of God,\u201d the Pope explained. \u201cHe who finds it has no doubts. He feels that this is what he was searching for, what he was looking for, and what responds to his most authentic aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe Pope reflected on how many saints were converted because they were so affected by Jesus. He noted that St. Francis of Assisi was a lukewarm Christian but when he encountered Jesus in a \u201cdecisive moment,\u201d he found the Kingdom of God \u201cand then all his dreams of earthly glory vanished.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThe Gospel makes you recognize the true Jesus, it makes you recognize that Jesus is alive. It speaks to your heart and changes your life.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tWhen someone is \u201cborn again,\u201d he explained, \u201cyou have found something that makes sense, that gives flavor, that gives light to all, even to hardships, even to suffering, even to death.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tThe Pope repeated his previous encouragements to read the Gospels and asked everyone to carry a small book of the Gospels in their pocket or purse.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cEverything makes sense when there, in the Gospel, you can find this treasure, which Jesus called \u2018the kingdom of God,\u2019 that God who reigns in your life, in our lives,\u201d Pope Francis said.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cTo read the Gospel is to find Jesus and to have this Christian joy, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cDear brothers and sisters, the joy of having found the treasure of the Kingdom of God shines, you see,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe Christian cannot conceal his faith, because it shines through in every word, every gesture, even in the most simple, everyday: it shines, the love that God has given us through Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tOn Sunday Pope Francis also renewed his calls for peace in the world.<\/p>\n
\tAfter the Angelus, the Pope noted the July 28 anniversary of the start of World War I.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cThis conflict, which Benedict XV called a \u2018senseless slaughter,\u2019 resulted, after four long years, in a most fragile peace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cTomorrow will be a day of mourning for this tragedy,\u201d said Pope Francis, who lamented the millions killed and the \u201cimmense destruction\u201d in the war.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cAs we remember this tragic event, I hope that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\tHe urged everyone to learn from a history that is \u201cincreasingly dominated by the demands of peace through patient and courageous dialogue.\u201d<\/p>\n
\tPope Francis particularly noted ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Iraq, and Ukraine.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cI ask that you continue to join me in prayer that the Lord may grant the people and authorities of those areas the wisdom and strength needed to push ahead on the path of peace by addressing each dispute with the tenacity of dialogue and negotiation with the power of reconciliation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\t\u201cBrothers and sisters: Never war! Never war!\u201d he exclaimed.<\/p>\n
\tThe Pope especially lamented war\u2019s effects on children: those killed, wounded, and maimed; the orphaned; those who have lost \u201chope for a decent life\u201d; and children who \u201cdo not know how to smile.\u201d<\/p>\n
\t\u201cStop, please!\u201d he said to those involved in violent conflict. \u201cI ask you with all my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Vatican City, Jul 27, 2014 \/ 11:07 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- On Sunday Pope Francis stressed the priceless value of encountering Jesus, noting that Jesus’ parables speak of those who are willing to trade everything for the Kingdom of God.<\/p>\n
\t“He…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vatican"],"yoast_head":"\n
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