Vatican City, Jun 13, 2007 / 06:22 am
More than 30,000 pilgrims enjoyed the sunny weather today as they gathered for Pope Benedict’s Wednesday audience. He centered his teaching on the example of Eusebius, the bishop of Palestine in the third century. The Pope shared Eusebius’ most powerful lesson for Christians—to see history as the revelation of God’s love for mankind.
Especially in today’s world of analysis and instant transmission of information, it can be easy to focus on what is new, what is sensational. However, Benedict XVI questioned this attitude saying, "Is it, the approach of one interested out of simple curiosity, perhaps seeking the scandalous and sensational at any cost?”
Instead, the Holy Father proposed that we should view the Church and its history the way Eusebius did. He saw the whole Church with an, “approach full of love and open to mystery of people….”
When the faithful approach the Church with love and faith then they can see, “in the history of the Church…the signs of God's love and of the great works of salvation He has achieved[.] If this is our approach, we cannot but be stimulated to a more coherent and generous response, to a more Christian witness of life."