Here we document the text of the Pope’s catechesis at the Angelus on March 10, 2024 in a German working translation.
Jesus did not come to judge, but to save the world. We too should ask the Lord to give us the look of mercy so that others can…
Dear brothers and sisters, good day!
On this fourth Sunday of Lent, the Gospel introduces us to the figure of Nicodemus (cf. John 3:14-21), a Pharisee, “one of the leaders of the Jews” (John 3:1). He saw the signs that Jesus did, recognized him as a teacher sent by God, and met with him at night so as not to be seen. The Lord received him, conversed with him and revealed to him that he had not come to judge but to save the world (cf. v. 17). Let’s stop and think about it: Jesus did not come to judge, but to save. That is nice!
Often in the Gospel we see how Christ reveals the intentions of the people he meets, sometimes exposing their wrong attitudes, as with the Pharisees (cf. Mt 23:27-32), or making them reflect on the disorder of their lives , such as the Samaritan woman (cf. John 4:5-42).
There are no secrets before Jesus: he reads the heart, the heart of each of us. And this ability can be troubling because when abused, it harms people and exposes them to harsh judgment. For no one is perfect, we are all sinners, we all err, and if the Lord used the knowledge of our weaknesses to condemn us, no one could be saved.
But that’s not the case. For he does not use them to point the finger at us, but to accept our life, to free us from sin and to save us. Jesus is not interested in trying or condemning us; he wants none of us to perish.
The Lord’s gaze upon each of us is not a blinding beacon that blinds us and brings us into trouble, but the gentle glow of a kind lamp that helps us to see the good in ourselves and recognize the evil, so that we can help ourselves convert to his grace and be healed.
Jesus did not come to condemn, but to save the world. Let us think of ourselves, who so often judge others; so often we want to gossip about others, seek gossip about others. Let us ask the Lord to give us all this look of mercy, to see others as he looks at us all.
Mary, help us to look for the good in others.
(vatican news – wd)