Faith is not theoretical, but a personal relationship with Jesus, Pope says
Faith in Christ means belief in a real person, not a theoretical being, Pope Francis said in his homily at an April 18 Mass for Italian police serving around the Vatican. The Pope contrasted the Christian understanding of God with the notion of "an intangible essence, mist, or spray," a god who is "a little bit everywhere but who no one really knows anything about." On the contrary, he observed, Jesus is a historic person with whom a personal relationship can be formed.
To illustrate his point the Pope alluded to the day's Scripture reading, which recounted St. Philip's meeting with the eunuch from the Egyptian court. Although he was "a careerist," the courtier received and recognized the good news, the Pope said. The Acts of the Apostles record that "he went on his way rejoicing." Pope Francis remarked: "It is the joy of faith, the joy of having encountered Jesus, the joy that only Jesus gives us, the joy that gives peace."
CWN - April 18, 2013
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To illustrate his point the Pope alluded to the day's Scripture reading, which recounted St. Philip's meeting with the eunuch from the Egyptian court. Although he was "a careerist," the courtier received and recognized the good news, the Pope said. The Acts of the Apostles record that "he went on his way rejoicing." Pope Francis remarked: "It is the joy of faith, the joy of having encountered Jesus, the joy that only Jesus gives us, the joy that gives peace."
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