Pope Francis celebrates Mass
for deceased Cardinals and Bishops
In his homily the Pope reflects on the parable of the Ten
Bridesmaids at the wedding banquet, and uses the image of oil to describe how
we should live our lives.
By Seàn-Patrick Lovett
8 Cardinals and a Patriarch passed away over the last year.
And 154 Bishops from nearly 40 countries. All of them were remembered by Pope
Francis at a Requiem Mass celebrated in St Peter’s
Basilica, at the Altar of the Chair, on Saturday morning.
Going out to meet the Bridegroom
In his homily, the Pope took inspiration from Jesus’ parable
of the Ten Bridesmaids, as recounted in St Matthew’s Gospel, who “go out to
meet the Bridegroom”. Pope Francis drew a parallel between this “going out” and
our own lives which, he said, are a “constant call to go forth” – from the womb
to the tomb. We are always on the move, he added, “until we make our final
journey”. Pope Francis described our life as a constant preparation for the
wedding banquet, for meeting Jesus, the Bridegroom. This is the encounter that
alone “gives meaning and direction to our lives”, he said.
Not the lamps but the oil
Commentaries on this Gospel often focus on the lamps carried
by the ten bridesmaids. When the lamps of the five foolish bridesmaids go out,
the door is closed and they are refused entry to the hall. Pope Francis,
instead, turned his attention to what the lamps contain: the oil. He examined
three characteristics of oil which he then applied to us and to how we should
live our lives.
Oil is not impressive
Oil is not an impressive substance, he said: “It remains
hidden, yet without it there is no light”. The Pope invited us to detach
ourselves from worldly appearances, to say no to what he called the “cosmetic
culture” that has us obsessing over how we look. Outward appearance passes
away, he reminded us. What is important is to “keep custody of our inner self,
which is precious in the eyes of God”.
Oil must be consumed
Oil gives light only when it is burned, said the Pope. Our
own lives radiate light only if they “spend themselves in service”. “Service”,
said Pope Francis, “is the ticket to be presented at the door of the eternal
wedding banquet”. Serving others, he continued, comes at a cost: “it involves
spending ourselves, letting ourselves be consumed”.
Oil must be prepared
Oil must be stored and prepared ahead of time, concluded the
Pope. So we too must prepare “right here and now”. Those called to God’s
wedding feast cannot be content with a “flat and humdrum life that plods on
without enthusiasm”, he said. Such a dreary and predictable life that fails to
give of itself, said pope Francis, “is unworthy of the Bridegroom”.
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