Pope: 'God calls us to be merciful and good, not
rigid'
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday warned against excessive
rigidity and said God gives us the freedom and the gentleness to be merciful.
He was speaking during the homily at morning Mass in the
Casa Santa Marta.
Drawing inspiration from the Gospel reading of the day which tells
of when Jesus, who was teaching in the synagogue, healed a crippled woman and
ignited the anger of the righteous, Pope Francis said “it is not easy to keep
to the path indicated by God’s Law.
The reading by Matthew tells us that Jesus’ action provoked the
fury of the leader of the synagogue who was “indignant that he had cured the
woman on the Sabbath” because - he said - Jesus had violated God’s Law by doing
so on the Sabbath day which is set aside for rest and worship.
And pointing out that the Jesus responded calling the leaders of
the synagogue ‘hypocrites’, the Pope observed that this is an accusation Jesus
often makes to those who follow the Law with rigidity. “The Law – he explained
– was not drawn up to enslave us but to set us free, to make us God’s
children”.
Concealed by rigidity, Pope Francis said, there is always
something else! That’s why Jesus uses the word ‘hypocrites!’:
"Behind an attitude of rigidity there is always something
else in the life of a person. Rigidity is not a gift of God. Meekness is;
goodness is; benevolence is; forgiveness is. But rigidity isn’t!” he said.
In many cases, the Pope continued, rigidity conceals the leading
of a double life; but, he pointed out, there can also be something
pathological.
Commenting on the difficulties and suffering that afflict a person
who is both rigid and sincere, the Pope said this is because they lack the
freedom of God's children: “they do not know how to walk in the path indicated
by God’s Law”.
“They appear good because they follow the Law; but they are
concealing something else: either they are hypocritical or they are sick. And
they suffer!” he said.
Pope Francis also recalled the parable of the prodigal son in
which the eldest son, who had always behaved well, was indignant with his
father because he had joyfully welcomed back the youngest son who returns home
repentant after having led a life of debauchery. This attitude - the Pope
explained - shows what is behind a certain type of goodness: “the pride of
believing in one’s righteousness”.
The elder son - Pope said - was rigid and conducted
his life following the Law but saw his father only as a master. The other put
rules aside, returned to his father in a time of darkness, and asked for
forgiveness.
“It is not easy to walk within the Law of the Lord without falling
into rigidity” he said.
The Pope concluded his homily with this prayer:
"Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters who think that by
becoming rigid they are following the path of the Lord. May the Lord make
them feel that He is our Father and that He loves mercy, tenderness, goodness,
meekness, humility. And may he teach us all to walk in the path of the Lord
with these attitudes.”
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