VATICAN CITY, MAR 25, 2007 (VIS) - This morning, Benedict XVI visited the parish of St. Felicitas and children, martyrs, in the northern sector of the diocese of Rome, where he celebrated Mass.
In his homily, the Holy Father explained how today's Gospel text on the adulteress "helps us to understand that only God can change man's life, and hence society, from within, because only His infinite love frees man from sin which is the root of all evil."
God is, "above all, love," he went on. "If He hates sin it is because He has an infinite love for all human beings. He loves each one of us and His faithfulness is such that it is not discouraged even by our refusal. Today particularly, Jesus calls us to interior conversion: He explains why He forgives us, and He teaches us to make forgiveness received and given to others the 'daily bread' of our lives."
In the Gospel episode as recounted by St. John, "man's misery and divine mercy come face to face: a woman accused of a grave sin and He Who, though without sin, took on the sins of the world entire." Jesus "asks for no explanations, He does not seek excuses. He is not being ironic when He asks her: ... 'Has no one condemned you?' And His reply is astounding: 'Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again'."
The Lord's aim was "to save a soul and to reveal that salvation is only to be found in the love of God. For this reason He came into the world, for this reason He would die on the Cross and the Father would raise Him on the third day. Jesus came to tell us that He wants us all in heaven and that hell - of which so little is said in our time - exists and is eternal for those who close their hearts to His love."
"What is being highlighted here is the fact that only God's forgiveness and His love received with an open and sincere heart give us the strength to resist evil and to sin no more. Jesus' attitude thus becomes a model to be followed by all communities, called to make love and forgiveness the pulsating heart of their lives."
Benedict XVI concluded by calling upon his listeners, through the intercession of St. Felicitas and her children, martyrs, "to discover Christ ever more profoundly and to follow Him with docile trust. ... May the example and intercession of these saints be a constant encouragement for you to follow the path of the Gospel without hesitation or compromise."
HML/.../ST. FELICITAS VIS 20070326 (460)
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