Pope at Epiphany: Church must grow in adoration
By Christopher Wells
Worship 鈥 adoration 鈥 鈥渋s the end and goal鈥 of the journey of the Magi, the focus of the Solemnity of Epiphany. 鈥淥nce we lose the sense of worship,鈥 Pope Francis said in his homily, 鈥渨e lose our direction in Christian life, which is a journey towards the Lord, not towards ourselves鈥.
The risk of being unable to worship
The Gospel, he said, warns about the risks for those who are incapable of worship. From Herod, 鈥渨ho used the word 鈥榳orship鈥, but only to deceive鈥, we learn that 鈥渨hen we do not worship God, we end up worshipping ourselves鈥. The chief priests and scribes, likewise, are incapable of worship. Although they know the prophecies, 鈥渁nd can quote them exactly鈥, they are unable to go there themselves. 鈥淚n the Christian life鈥, the Pope said, 鈥渋t is not enough to be knowledgeable, unless we step out of ourselves, unless we encounter others, and worship, we cannot know God鈥.
Faith demands worship
Pope Francis prayed that at the start of the new year, we might 鈥渄iscover anew that faith demands worship鈥. Adoration, he said, 鈥渕eans putting the Lord at the centre, not ourselves鈥.
He explained that worship means 鈥渕aking space for God鈥檚 plan鈥, realizing that we belong with God, and 鈥渂eing able to speak to him freely and intimately鈥. Worship, the Pope said, means discovering that, 鈥渋n order to pray, it is enough to say 鈥楳y Lord and my God鈥 and to allow ourselves to be pervaded by His tender love鈥.
The Pope said that "worship is an act of love that changes our lives". Although we have some idea of what it means to pray, he said "the Church must go even further with the prayer of adoration, we have to grow in adoration. It is a wisdom that we must learn each day".
Adoration frees us from modern idols
By praying in adoration, Pope Francis continued, 鈥渨e allow Jesus to heal and to change us鈥 to transform us by His love, to kindle light amid our darkness, to grant us strength in weakness, and courage amid trials鈥. Worshipping God, he said, frees us from slavery to the idols of today, which must not be worshipped, such as 鈥渢he god of money, the god of consumerism, the god of pleasure, the god of success, the god of self鈥. The Pope said that 鈥渨orship means bending low before the Most High, and discovering in His presence that life鈥檚 greatness consists not in having, but in loving鈥.
The meaning of our journey
鈥淢any Christians pray, but they do not worship鈥, Pope Francis said. 鈥淚t is up to us, as a Church, to put into practice the words we prayed in today鈥檚 psalm: 鈥楢ll the peoples of the earth will worship you, O Lord鈥. Only then, he said, will we too discover 鈥渓ike the Magi, the meaning of our journey鈥.
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