Today, Pope Francis said the end of the year is merely a step in a Christian’s journey toward his true home, heaven, Vatican Radio reported.
The pope made his remarks during his homily in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City as he presided over year-end vespers at 5 p.m. Rome time.
Pope Francis addressed the Christian’s sense of history.
“The biblical and Christian vision of time and history,” he said, “is not cyclical, but linear: it is a path that leads towards a conclusion.”
The passing year isn’t an end in itself, the pope explained, but a step on the way toward the goal that lies ahead of us: a place of hope and happiness with God, the Reason of our hope and Source of our joy, Vatican Radio said.
The pontiff urged the faithful to offer the days, weeks and months lived this year to God and to look ahead to the new year with gratitude for what we’ve received, repentance for our failings and resolve to cooperate with God’s grace to improve ourselves and our communities.
Listen to the report by Vatican Radio’s Christopher Altieri here: http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/12/31/pope_francis_prays_year-end_vespers/en1-760186.
