“The voice of the Lord can always be recognized; it has a unique style — it is a voice that pacifies, encourages, and reassures in difficulties,” Pope Francis said this January 4 on concluding his teaching series on discerning God’s voice from among the other interior and exterior voices we here.
And then he repeated one four-word phrase that is said in the Gospel over and over. The Pope himself repeated it a handful of times today:
The Gospel reminds us of this continually:
“Do not be afraid” (Lk 1:30), how beautiful is the Angel’s word to Mary after the resurrection of Jesus;
“Do not be afraid,”
“Do not be afraid” – it is the style of the Lord,
“Do not be afraid.”
“Do not be afraid!” the Lord repeats to us today too,
“Do not be afraid”: If we trust in his word, we will play the game of life well, and we will be able to help others. As the Psalm says, his Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (cf. 119, 105).
In fact, this phrase comes at us in Scripture 365 times. Read more about that here:
And today we celebrate...