VATICAN CITY, 14 MAY 2009 (VIS) - At 5.30 p.m. today, in the Grotto of the Annunciation located in Nazareth's Basilica of the Annunciation, the Holy Father presided at Vespers with bishops, priests, religious, ecclesial movements, and pastoral care leaders of Galilee. Benedict XVI was greeted by Archbishop Paul Nabil El-Sayah of Haifa and the Holy Land of the Maronites, director of pastoral care for the family.
The Pope expressed his thanks for the presence of Maronite, Latin-rite and Greek Melkite faithful, and once again paid tribute to the friars of the Custody of the Holy Land for their work in conserving the Holy Places, including the Basilica of the Annunciation.
"What happened here in Nazareth, far from the gaze of the world", he said, "was a singular act of God, a powerful intervention in history, through which a Child was conceived Who was to bring salvation to the whole world. The wonder of the Incarnation continues to challenge us to open up our understanding to the limitless possibilities of God's transforming power, of His love for us, His desire to be united with us".
The Holy Father explained how the Incarnation ushered in "a new Creation", and how the "narrative of the Annunciation illustrates God's extraordinary courtesy. He does not impose himself, He does not simply pre-determine the part that Mary will play in His plan for our salvation: He first seeks her consent. In the original Creation there was clearly no question of God seeking the consent of His creatures, but in this new Creation He does so. Mary stands in the place of all humanity. She speaks for us all when she responds to the angel's invitation".
"When we reflect on this joyful mystery, it gives us hope", the Pope insisted, "the sure hope that God will continue to reach into our history, to act with creative power so as to achieve goals which by human reckoning seem impossible". This invites us "to welcome the Word of God into our hearts, enabling us to respond to Him in love and to reach out in love towards one another.
"In the State of Israel and the Palestinian Territories", he added, "Christians form a minority of the population. Perhaps at times you feel that your voice counts for little. Many of your fellow Christians have emigrated, in the hope of finding greater security and better prospects elsewhere. Your situation calls to mind that of the young Virgin Mary, who led a hidden life in Nazareth, with little by way of worldly wealth or influence".
Quoting then the words of the Magnificat - "God has looked upon His servant in her lowliness, He has filled the hungry with good things" - the Pope told those present: "Have the confidence to be faithful to Christ and to remain here in the land that He sanctified with His own presence! Like Mary, you have a part to play in God's plan for salvation. ... For this, it is essential that you should be united among yourselves, so that the Church in the Holy Land can be clearly recognised as 'a sign and instrument of communion with God and of the unity of the entire human race'".
He concluded: "Your unity in faith, hope and love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, enabling you to be effective instruments of God's peace, helping to build genuine reconciliation between the different peoples who recognise Abraham as their father in faith".
After the ceremony the Pope went to the Nazareth heliport, and from there by helicopter to Jerusalem where he spent the night in the apostolic delegation.
PV-ISRAEL/VESPERS/NAZARETH VIS 20090515 (620)
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