Pope in general audience summarizes catechesis on prayer: Jesus prays for us

The Pope reflected on the prayer of Jesus and recalled how on the cross “” he asks for others, for everyone, even for those who condemn him “.

Francis explained that in this way Jesus “intercedes and embraces the whole world, his gaze reaches us all.”

“This reminds us that, even in the midst of the greatest sufferings, we are not alone”, because “Jesus not only” loved “us first, but also” prayed “first for us.”

SUMMARY OF CATECHESIS IN SPANISH

Dear brothers and sisters:

Today we finish the catechesis on prayer.

One of the most evident characteristics of the life of Jesus is his dialogue with the Father in prayer and, as the Gospels testify, this dialogue became even more intense at the time of his Passion and Death.

In the Garden of Olives, Jesus prays with fear and anguish, and addresses God calling him “Abba”, that is, “Dad”, an Aramaic word that expresses intimacy and trust.

Also in the darkness and silence of the cross Jesus invokes God as Father. At that moment, in the midst of excruciating pain, Jesus is the absolute intercessor. Pray for others, for everyone, even for those who condemn it. He pleads with words from the Psalms, joining the poor and forgotten of the world. He relieves the anguish of his heart in a very human way, without ceasing to trust fully in the Father, aware of his divine filiation until the last breath on the cross, when he surrenders his soul into the hands of the Father.

To delve into the mystery of Jesus’ prayer, we stop at the so-called “priestly prayer”, collected in chapter 17 of the Gospel of John.

The context of this prayer is Easter. Jesus addresses the Father at the end of the Last Supper, in which he institutes the Eucharist. In his prayer he goes beyond the diners, intercedes and embraces the whole world, his gaze reaches us all.

This reminds us that, even in the midst of the greatest sufferings, we are not alone, we have already been welcomed into the dialogue of Jesus with the Father, in communion with the Holy Spirit.

I cordially greet the Spanish-speaking faithful. At the end of these catechesis on prayer, let us not forget that Jesus not only “loved” us first, but also “prayed” first for us. Therefore, with our prayers and our lives, let us say to him: Glory to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, now and forever, forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.

Thank you.

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