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Eternal life is not something that is “gained by force” but rather is an inheritance from God, Pope Leo XIV said in his July 13 Angelus address.
The Sunday gospel reading from Luke chapter 10 recounts a scholar’s question to Jesus of what must be done to inherit eternal life — an inquiry reflective of all human hearts, Pope Leo said.
“Those words express a constant desire in our life: our yearning for salvation, for an existence free from failure, evil and death,” Pope Leo said, giving his address from his retreat residence at Castel Gondolfo, about 40 minutes away from the Vatican. His multi-week stay at the residence carries on a longstanding papal tradition for taking summer rest.
“This hope of the human heart is described as something to be ‘inherited’, not something to be gained by force, begged for, or negotiated,” the Pope continued. “Eternal life, which God alone can give, is bestowed on us as an inheritance, as parents do with their children.”
Jesus’ response to the scholar is that he must do God’s will, loving Him with one’s whole heart and loving one’s neighbor as oneself.
“When we do these two things, we respond to the Father’s love,” Pope Leo said. “God’s will is the law of life that the Father himself was the first to follow, by loving us unconditionally in his Son, Jesus.”
The Pope urged the faithful to look to Jesus to learn what authentic love is: “generous, not possessive; a love that forgives without question; a love that reaches out and never abandons others.”
“In Christ, God made himself a neighbour to each and every man and woman,” he continued. “That is why each of us can and should become a neighbour to all whom we meet. Imitating the example of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, we too are called to bring consolation and hope, above all to those who are experiencing discouragement and disappointment.”
It is crucial to spend one’s life on earth in love and service to others, the Pope emphasized.
“In order to live eternally, we do not need to cheat death, but to serve life, by caring for others in this, our time together. That is the supreme law that is prior to all society’s rules and gives them their meaning,” he concluded. “Let us ask the Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, to help us to open our hearts to God’s will, which is always a will of saving love. In this way, we will become artisans of peace every day of our lives.”
After leading the Angelus, he called on the faithful to pray for peace and victims of violence and war.