VATICAN CITY, March 25, 2013 (Zenit.org) - In his homily for Mass today, Francis spoke of God's infinite patience with us.
The Holy Father has been celebrating daily Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, where he is staying until renovation work is completed on the papal apartments.
Workers from the Vatican are invited to attend the Mass.
Vatican Radio reported about his homily today.
Francis reflected, "The emblem of the infinite patience that God has for man is reflected in the infinite patience that Jesus has for Judas."
In today's Gospel (John 12:1-11), Judas Iscariot criticizes Mary because she "took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair."
Pope Francis said, "Jesus did not say: 'You are a thief.’”
Instead, "he was patient with Judas, trying to draw him closer through patience, his love. During Holy Week, we would do well to think of the patience of God, the patience that God has with each one of us, with our weaknesses, our sins."
"The patience of God is a mystery!" Pope Francis said. "How much patience he has with us! We do so many things, but He is patient."
The Holy Father likened him to the father in the Gospel, who "saw his son from afar, the son who had left him with all of his inheritance." And why, the Pope asked, did he see him from afar? "Because every day he went out to see if his child would return." This, Pope Francis affirmed, "is God's patience, this is the patience of Jesus."
He concluded: "Let us think of our personal relationship, in this week: How patient has Jesus been with me in my life? Just this. And then the words will rise from our hearts: 'Thank you, Lord! Thank you for your patience.'"
