Benedict XVI: Miracles Show God Is Near

Reflects on the Good News of Christ

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VATICAN CITY, JAN. 27, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The healing miracles that Christ performs in the Gospel demonstrate that God has drawn near to humanity, says Benedict XVI.



Addressing the crowds gathered today in St. Peter's Square to pray the midday Angelus, the Pope reflected on the beginning of Christ's public mission as recounted in the Gospel of Matthew.

The Holy Father said that the "good news" that Jesus proclaims can be summarized by the expressions used in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark: "The kingdom of God," or the kingdom of heaven, "is near."

He noted that these expressions do not refer to an earthly kingdom "limited by space and time," but rather they proclaim "that it is God who rules, that God is Lord and his lordship is present -- actual -- it is being realized."

The Pontiff continued: "The novelty of Christ's message is that in him God has drawn near, he already reigns in our midst, as the miracles and the healings that he accomplishes show."

"Where Jesus comes, the Creator Spirit brings life and men are cured of diseases of body and spirit," said Benedict XVI. "The lordship of God is thus manifested in the total healing of man."

He continued: "With this Jesus wants to reveal the countenance of the true God, the God who is near, full of mercy for every human being; the God who makes a gift to us of life in abundance, of his own life.

"The kingdom of God is for this reason life that affirms itself over death, the light of the truth that scatters the darkness of ignorance and falsehood."