Pope
calls for conversion of hearts and minds in Cuba
(Vatican
Radio) Conversion of hearts and minds to Christ: this was the central theme of
Pope Francis’s homily at Mass in the Cuban city of Holguin on Monday, the day
the Church marks the feast of St Matthew.
Speaking
to the crowds gathered in Holguin’s central Revolution Square, the Pope
recalled the Gospel story of Matthew’s conversion from tax collector, despised
by all around him, to disciple of Jesus, ready and willing to give his life in
service to others.
Pope
Francis spoke of the powerful and merciful gaze of Jesus, who looked directly
at Matthew and said simply, ‘Follow me’. It was a gaze, the Pope said, which
“unlocked Matthew’s heart; it set him free, it healed him, it gave him hope, a
new life”.
Just
as Jesus transformed Matthew’s life through this encounter, the Pope said, He
can also “transform our way of seeing things”. He praised the efforts of the
Church in Cuba to bring Christ’s word and presence to the remote areas of the
Caribbean nation, in particular the so-called “mission houses” which, given the
shortage of churches and priests, “provide for many people a place for prayer,
for listening to the word of God, for catechesis and community life”.
Please
find below the English translation of the Pope’s prepared homily
Homily
of Pope Francis for the Mass at Holguín, (Plaza de la Revolución)
We are celebrating the feast of the apostle and evangelist Saint Matthew.
We are celebrating the story of a conversion. Matthew himself, in his
Gospel, tell us what it was like, this encounter which changed his life.
He shows us an “exchange of glances” capable of changing history.
On a day like any other, as Matthew, the tax collector, was seated at his
table, Jesus passed by, saw him, came up to him and said: “Follow me”.
Matthew got up and followed him.
Jesus looked at him. How strong was the love in that look of Jesus, which
moved Matthew to do what he did! What power must have been in his eyes to
make Matthew get up from his table! We know that Matthew was a publican:
he collected taxes from the Jews to give to the Romans. Publicans were
looked down upon and considered sinners; as such, they lived apart and were
despised by others. One could hardly eat, speak or pray with the likes of
these. For the people, they were traitors: they extorted from their own
to give to others. Publicans belonged to this social class.
Jesus, on the other hand, stopped; he did not quickly take his distance.
He looked at Matthew calmly, peacefully. He looked at him with eyes of
mercy; he looked at him as no one had ever looked at him before. And this
look unlocked Matthew’s heart; it set him free, it healed him, it gave him
hope, a new life, as it did to Zacchaeus, to Bartimaeus, to Mary Magdalen, to
Peter, and to each of us. Even if we do not dare raise our eyes to the
Lord, he looks at us first. This is our story, and it is like that of so
many others. Each of us can say: “I, too, am a sinner, whom Jesus has
looked upon”. I ask you, in your homes or in the Church, to be still for
a moment and to recall with gratitude and happiness those situations, that
moment, when the merciful gaze of God was felt in our lives.
Jesus’ love goes before us, his look anticipates our needs. He can see
beyond appearances, beyond sin, beyond failures and unworthiness. He sees
beyond our rank in society. He sees beyond this, to our dignity as sons and
daughters, a dignity at times sullied by sin, but one which endures in the
depth of our soul. He came precisely to seek out all those who feel
unworthy of God, unworthy of others. Let us allow Jesus to look at
us. Let us allow his gaze to run over our streets. Let us allow
that look to become our joy, our hope.
After the Lord looked upon him with mercy, he said to Matthew: “Follow
me.” Matthew got up and followed him. After the look, a word.
After love, the mission. Matthew is no longer the same; he is changed
inside. The encounter with Jesus and his loving mercy has transformed
him. He leaves behind his table, his money, his exclusion. Before,
he had sat waiting to collect his taxes, to take from others; now, with Jesus
he must get up and give, give himself to others. Jesus looks at him and
Matthew encounters the joy of service. For Matthew and for all who have
felt the gaze of Jesus, other people are no longer to be “lived off”, used and
abused. The gaze of Jesus gives rise to missionary activity, service,
self-giving. Jesus’ love heals our short-sightedness and pushes us to
look beyond, not to be satisfied with appearances or with what is politically
correct.
Jesus goes before us, he precedes us; he opens the way and invites us to follow
him. He invites us slowly to overcome our preconceptions and our
reluctance to think that others, much less ourselves, can change. He
challenges us daily with the question: “Do you believe? Do you believe it
is possible that a tax collector can become a servant? Do you believe it
is possible that a traitor can become a friend? Do you believe is
possible that the son of a carpenter can be the Son of God?” His gaze
transforms our way of seeing things, his heart transforms our hearts. God
is a Father who seeks the salvation of each of his sons and daughters.
Let us gaze upon the Lord in prayer, in the Eucharist, in Confession, in our
brothers and sisters, especially those who feel excluded or abandoned.
May we learn to see them as Jesus sees us. Let us share his tenderness
and mercy with the sick, prisoners, the elderly and families in
difficulty. Again and again we are called to learn from Jesus, who always
sees what is most authentic in every person, which is the image of his Father.
I know the efforts and the sacrifices being made by the Church in Cuba to bring
Christ’s word and presence to all, even in the most remote areas. Here I
would mention especially the “mission houses” which, given the shortage of
churches and priests, provide for many people a place for prayer, for listening
to the word of God, for catechesis and community life. They are small
signs of God’s presence in our neighborhoods and a daily aid in our effort to
respond to the plea of the apostle Paul: “I beg you to lead a life worthy of
the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness,
forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace” (cf. Eph 4:1-3).
I now turn my eyes to the Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, whom
Cuba embraced and to whom it opened its doors forever. I ask Our Lady to
look with maternal love on all her children in this noble country. May
her “eyes of mercy” ever keep watch over each of you, your homes, your
families, and all those who feel that they have no place. In her love,
may she protect us all as she once cared for Jesus.
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