the advice of today 31 August 2020 of John Paul II

Saint John Paul II (1920-2005)
pope

Apostolic Letter "Novo millennio ineunte", 4 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

"We give you thanks, Lord God almighty" (Rev 11,17) ... I think of the dimension of praise, first of all. In fact, it is from here that every authentic response of faith to God's revelation in Christ moves. Christianity is grace, it is the surprise of a God who, not content with creating the world and man, got in step with his creature, and after having spoken several times and in different ways "through the prophets lately, in these days, he has spoken to us through the Son "(Heb 1,1-2).

In these days! Yes, the Jubilee made us feel that two thousand years of history have passed without attenuating the freshness of that "today" with which the angels announced to the shepherds the wonderful event of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem: "Today he was born there in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord "(Lk 2,11:4,21). Two thousand years have passed, but the proclamation that Jesus made of his mission before his astonished fellow citizens in the synagogue of Nazareth remains more alive than ever, applying to himself the prophecy of Isaiah: "Today this Scripture that you have heard with the your ears "(Lk 23,43:XNUMX). Two thousand years have passed, but it always comes back consoling for sinners in need of mercy - and who isn't? - that "today" of salvation which on the Cross opened the doors of the Kingdom of God to the repentant thief: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise" (Lk XNUMX:XNUMX).