April 16 - 30, 2016
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY
Pope to teens: No phone app for
love and happiness
Pope Francis said Sunday in his homily
for the Jubilee for boys and girls that freedom
does not come from things we possess or from
doing whatever we want, rather, true freedom
and happiness can only be found in the love
of Jesus.
“Your happiness has no price,” the Pope
said during Mass in St. Peter’s Square. “It cannot be bought: it is not an app that you can
download on your phones nor will the latest update bring you freedom and grandeur in love.”
“That is because love is a free gift which
calls for an open heart,” he said. “It is a noble
responsibility which is life-long; it is a daily task
for those who can achieve great dreams!”
Francis challenged the young teens to
not “be content with mediocrity,” or believe
those who equate importance with the sort
of toughness shown by heroes in films, or by
wearing the “latest fashions.”
“Don’t believe those who would distract
you from the real treasure, which you are, by
telling you that life is beautiful only if you have
many possessions.”
Delivering his homily to the over 90,000
people overflowing the Square, Pope Francis
assured the teens that, because of their friendship with Christ, they are never alone.
“Even if you disappoint him and walk
away from him, Jesus continues to want the
best for you and to remain close to you; he
believes in you even more than you believe in
yourself.”
“The biggest threat to growing up well
comes from thinking that no one cares about
us, from feeling that we are all alone,” he said.
“The Lord, on the other hand, is always with
you and he is happy to be with you.”
Moreover, Jesus calls young people to
follow him, just as he did the first disciples, the
Pope added. “Jesus is waiting patiently for you.
He awaits your response. He is waiting for you
to say ‘yes’.”
In his homily, Pope Francis stressed
that love is the “Christian’s identity card,” and
is “the only valid ‘document’ identifying us as
Christians.”
“If this card expires and is not constantly
renewed, we stop being witnesses of the Master,” he said.
Those who wish to be Jesus’ disciples,
to be “his faithful friends,” and to “experience
his love,” must learn how to love from him.
The Pope gave the example of everyone
who has given us a gift, invested time, and sacrificed for our sake. He cited in particular the
sacrifices made by the parents and group leaders who organized the pilgrimages to Rome for
this weekend’s Jubilee for boys and girls.
“To love means to give, not only something material, but also something of one’s
self: one’s own time, one’s friendship, one’s
own abilities.”
Addressing the teens present at the
Mass, Francis acknowledged their “growing
desire to demonstrate and receive affection.”
“The Lord, if you let him teach you, will
show you how to make tenderness and affection even more beautiful,” the Pope said.
Moreover, this love is not possessive,
but allows t