Pope on Palm Sunday: love and
service during Covid-19
During Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Basilica, celebrated
with a limited congregation due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis
dedicates his homily to the theme of service. (Playback included)
By Vatican News
For the first time in history, Pope Francis celebrated Palm
Sunday Mass alone in St Peter’s Basilica. Out of respect for Covid-19
regulations limiting large gatherings, the Mass was held without a
congregation. Millions of people joined the Holy Father, however, via the
internet, radio and television.
The Pope based his homily on St Paul’s Letter to the
Philippians, where the Apostle describes Jesus as emptying Himself and “taking
the form of a servant” (Phil 2:7).
“Let us allow these words of the Apostle Paul to lead us
into these holy days”, said Pope Francis, “when the Word of God, like a
refrain, presents Jesus as servant”.
God serves us
“We often think we are the ones who serve God”, began the
Pope. Instead, “He is the one who freely chose to serve us, for He loved us
first.
The Lord served us by giving His life for us, continued Pope
Francis. He did this “with the humility, patience and obedience of a servant,
and purely out of love”.
“The Lord served us to the point of experiencing the most
painful situations of those who love: betrayal and abandonment”, he added.
Betrayal
“Jesus suffered betrayal by the disciple who sold Him and by
the disciple who denied Him”, explained Pope Francis. “He was betrayed by the
people who sang hosanna to Him and then shouted: ‘Crucify Him!’ ”.
We have all suffered betrayals in life, the Pope acknowledged.
Betrayal risks provoking disappointment “that can even make life seem
meaningless”, he added, because “we were born to be loved and to love”.
Healing
“If we are honest with ourselves, we will see our
infidelities”, continued Pope Francis: the “falsehoods, hypocrisies
and duplicities”. The Lord knows “how weak and irresolute we are, how many
times we fall, how hard it is for us to get up, and how difficult it is to heal
certain wounds”, he said.
Despite all that, Jesus still comes to our aid. He serves us
and heals us “by taking upon Himself our infidelity”, explained the Pope.
“Instead of being discouraged by the fear of failing, we can now look upon the
crucifix, feel His embrace”, and say: “You serve me with your love, you
continue to support me… And so I will keep pressing on”.
Abandonment
Turning to the Gospel for Palm Sunday, Pope Francis noted
Jesus’ words from the Cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46).
Everyone had fled, “but the Father remained for Him”, said the Pope. These
words tell us that Jesus Himself experienced desolation and utmost abandonment.
All of this took place “for our sake, to serve us”,
continued the Pope. “Jesus did it for me, for you, to say to us: ‘I experienced
all your desolation in order to be ever close to you’”.
Consolation
Pope Francis then addressed the Coronavirus emergency.
“Today, in the tragedy of a pandemic, in the face of the
many false securities that have now crumbled, in the face of so many hopes
betrayed, in the sense of abandonment that weighs upon our hearts, Jesus says
to each one of us: ‘Courage, open your heart to my love. You will feel the
consolation of God who sustains you’”.
We serve others
“The tragedy we are experiencing summons us to take
seriously the things that are serious, and not to be caught up in those that
matter less”, Pope Francis suggested.
During these holy days, “may we reach out to those who are
suffering and those most in need. May we not be concerned about what we lack,
but what good we can do for others”, said the Pope.
“Loving, praying, forgiving, caring for others, in the
family and in society” can be difficult, admitted Pope Francis. “But the path
of service is the victorious and lifegiving path by which we were saved”.
Saying “yes” to love
The Pope then addressed young people, “on this Day which has
been dedicated to them for thirty-five years now”. He invited them to consider
what he called “real heroes”: not famous, rich and successful people, but
“those who are giving themselves in order to serve others”. His final words
were for them:
“Feel called yourselves to put your lives on the line. Do
not be afraid to devote your life to God and to others; it pays! For life
is a gift we receive only when we give ourselves away, and our deepest joy
comes from saying ‘yes’ to love, without ifs and buts. As Jesus did for
us.
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