Pope Francis: Who is Jesus for me?

At the end of his Angelus address on Sunday, Pope Francis called on the faithful to ask themselves this question. "Who is Jesus for me? Is He simply a name? an idea? A person from history? Or is He really someone who loves me, Who gave His life for me, and walks with me?"

Reflecting on the day's Gospel Pope Francis said some of Jesus' disciples left Him, because He had disappointed their expectations of a worldly Messiah, a leader that would be immediately successful. Jesus said He was the bread come down from Heaven, who would give His flesh for food and His blood for drink - clearly pointing to the sacrifice of His own life. The disciples who left, misunderstood the "disturbing language" of the Master.

But Peter confessed his faith, and that of the other Apostles: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Pope Francis said Peter's question - to whom shall we go - reveals that the problem is not one of leaving and abandoning the work one has begun, but is rather a question about a person: "To whom shall we go?" From Peter's question, the Pope said, "we understand that faithfulness to God is a question about faithfulness to a person." All that we have in this world, he continued "will not satisfy our hunger for the infinite. We need Jesus, we need to remain with Him, to nourish ourselves at His table, on His words of eternal life."

When we are attached to Jesus, in a true relationship of faith and love, we are not bound, but rather, are profoundly free as we journey with Him through life.

Following the Angelus Pope Francis made a new appeal for peace in Ukraine. "With deep concern, I am following the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has accelerated anew in these last weeks," the Pope said. "I renew my appeal that the commitments undertaken to achieve peace might be respected; and that, with the help of organizations and persons of good will, there might be a response to the humanitarian emergency in the country."

The Holy Father concluded his appeal with the prayer, "May the Lord grant peace to Ukraine, which is preparing to celebrate tomorrow the national holiday [Independence Day]. May the Virgin Mary intercede for us!"

Source: Vatican Radio