Vatican City: In his first Wednesday General Audience of August, Pope Leo XIV offered a deeply reflective catechesis on the word “prepare,” urging the faithful to see daily life as a journey toward the Eucharist and to remove the unnecessary burdens that cloud their spiritual clarity.
Drawing from the Gospel of Mark, the Pope reflected on the apostles’ question to Jesus before the Passover: “Where do you want us to go and prepare?” He noted how Jesus’ symbolic answer of a man carrying water leading them to a ready room reveals a profound spiritual truth: divine love is never accidental but intentional.
Pope Leo emphasized that true love, especially divine love, is never a sudden spark but the result of careful preparation. "Jesus did not suffer out of impulse," he said. "His passion was a decision rooted in love, a love that had already paved the path for us to follow."
This love, he explained, prepares a space for each person, a sacred interior room waiting to be recognized and embraced.
Though God paves the way, the Pope reminded the audience that grace does not override free will. “Even when the table is set, Jesus asks us to act, to prepare ourselves to meet Him,” he said. “This act of preparation is not a performance, but a choice to enter into communion with God.”
The Pope expanded the notion of “preparing the Passover” beyond the Mass. For him, every moment of daily life offers a chance to engage with the Eucharistic spirit: in gratitude, in acts of love, in choosing understanding over judgment.
He advised believers to strip away spiritual clutter unrealistic expectations, burdensome demands, and illusions of control that keep them from receiving God’s grace. “Illusions distract,” he warned, “but preparation guides us.”
Pope Leo concluded by assuring the faithful that God is always one step ahead, silently preparing hearts and spaces for deeper encounter. “The room is ready,” he said, “the table is set. Now, we must decide to walk toward it.”
Echoing the message of quiet readiness, the Pope called on all believers to prepare not only for Sunday liturgies but also for the daily ‘Passover’ those ordinary, hidden moments when love, sacrifice, and grace meet.
“When we choose to prepare our hearts, we find we are never alone. The Lord has already gone before us.”