MESSAGE FROM THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
FOR LENT 2023
Lenten asceticism, a synodal path
Dear brothers and sisters:
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke agree when recounting the episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus. In this event we see the response that the Lord gave to his disciples when they manifested their misunderstanding of Him. In fact, a short time before there had been a real confrontation between the Master and Simon Peter, who, after professing his faith in Jesus as the Christ , the Son of God, rejected his announcement of the passion and the cross. Jesus strongly rebuked him: “Get back, come after me, Satan! You are an obstacle for me, because your thoughts are not those of God, but those of men” (Mt 16,23). And “six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John from him, and led them up a high mountain by themselves” (Mt 17,1).
The gospel of the Transfiguration is proclaimed each year on the second Sunday of Lent. Indeed, in this liturgical season the Lord takes us with him and takes us to a secluded place. Even when our daily commitments force us to stay where we usually are, living an often repetitive and sometimes boring daily life, in Lent we are invited to “climb a high mountain” together with Jesus, to live with the holy People of God a particular experience of asceticism.
Lenten asceticism is a commitment, always animated by grace, to overcome our lack of faith and our resistance to following Jesus on the way of the cross. It was precisely what Peter and his other disciples needed. To deepen our knowledge of the Master, to fully understand and accept the mystery of divine salvation, accomplished in the total gift of self for love, we must allow ourselves to be led by Him to a deserted and elevated place, distancing ourselves from mediocrity and vanity. It is necessary to set out, an uphill path, which requires effort, sacrifice and concentration, like a hike in the mountains. These requirements are also important for the synodal path that, as a Church, we have committed ourselves to carry out. It will do us good to reflect on this relationship that exists between Lenten asceticism and the synodal experience.
In the “retreat” on Mount Tabor, Jesus took with him three disciples, chosen to witness a unique event. He wanted that experience of grace not to be solitary, but shared, as it is, after all, our entire life of faith. We must follow Jesus together. And together, as a pilgrim Church in time, we live the liturgical year and, in it, Lent, walking with those whom the Lord has placed at our side as traveling companions. Analogously to the ascent of Jesus and his disciples to Mount Tabor, we can affirm that our Lenten path is “synodal”, because we do it together on the same path, disciples of the only Master. We know, in fact, that he himself is the way and, for this reason, both in the liturgical itinerary and in that of the Synod, the Church does nothing but enter more and more fully and deeply into the mystery of Christ the Savior.
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And we come to the climax. The Gospel says that Jesus “was transfigured in their presence: his face shone like the sun and his garments became white as light” (Mt 17.2). Here is the “summit”, the goal of the path. At the end of the climb, while standing on top of the mountain with Jesus, the three disciples were granted the grace to see him in his glory, resplendent with supernatural light. A light that did not come from outside, but radiated from Himself. The divine beauty of this vision was incomparably greater than any effort the disciples could have put forth to climb Tabor. As in any demanding mountain excursion, as you ascend it is necessary to keep your eyes fixed on the path; but the wonderful panorama that is revealed at the end surprises and makes it worthwhile. Also the synodal process often seems like an arduous path, which can sometimes be discouraging. But what awaits us at the end is undoubtedly something wonderful and surprising, which will help us better understand God’s will and our mission at the service of His Kingdom.
The disciples’ experience on Mount Tabor was further enriched when, next to the transfigured Jesus, appeared Moses and Elijah, who respectively personify the Law and the Prophets (cf. Mt 17.3). The novelty of Christ is the fulfillment of the old Covenant and of the promises; it is inseparable from God’s history with his people and reveals his deep meaning. Similarly, the synodal path is rooted in the tradition of the Church and, at the same time, open to novelty. Tradition is a source of inspiration to seek new paths, avoiding the opposite temptations of immobility and improvised experimentation.
The Lenten ascetic path, like the synodal one, has as its goal a personal and ecclesial transfiguration. A transformation that, in both cases, finds its model in that of Jesus and is accomplished through the grace of his paschal mystery. So that this transfiguration can take place in us this year, I would like to propose two “paths” to follow in order to ascend with Jesus and reach the goal with Him.
The first refers to the imperative that God the Father addressed to the disciples on Tabor, while they were contemplating the transfigured Jesus. The voice that was heard from the cloud said: “Listen to him” (Mt 17.5). Therefore, the first indication is very clear: listen to Jesus. Lent is a time of grace to the extent that we listen to the One who speaks to us. And how does he speak to us? Above all, in the Word of God, which the Church offers us in the liturgy. Let’s not let it fall on deaf ears. If we can’t always participate in Mass, let’s meditate on the biblical readings of each day, even with the help of the internet. In addition to speaking to us in the scriptures, the Lord does so through our brothers and sisters, especially in the faces and stories of those who need help. But I would also like to add another aspect, very important in the synodal process: listening to Christ also involves listening to our brothers and sisters in the Church; that reciprocal listening that in some phases is the main objective, and that, in any case, is always indispensable in the method and style of a synodal Church.
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Upon hearing the voice of the Father, “the disciples fell with their faces to the ground, full of fear. Jesus approached them and, touching them, said: “Get up, do not be afraid.” When they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus alone” (Mt 17,6-8). Here is the second indication for this Lent: do not take refuge in a religiosity made of extraordinary events, suggestive experiences, for fear of facing reality with its daily fatigues, its difficulties and its contradictions. The light that Jesus shows the disciples is a preview of paschal glory and towards it we must go, following “Him alone”. Lent is geared towards Easter. The “retirement” is not an end in itself, but prepares us to live the passion and the cross with faith, hope and love, to reach the resurrection. In the same way, the synodal path should not make us believe in the illusion that we have arrived when God grants us the grace of some strong experiences of communion. There, too, the Lord repeats to us: “Get up, do not be afraid”. Let us go down to the plain and may the grace we have experienced sustain us to be artisans of synodality in the ordinary life of our communities.
Dear brothers and sisters, may the Holy Spirit encourage us during this Lent as we climb with Jesus, so that we may experience his divine splendor and thus, strengthened in faith, continue together on the path with him, glory of his people and light of nations. .
Rome, Saint John Lateran, January 25, 2023, Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul
Francisco
