Pope at Mass: Advent a time to
make peace in the soul, family, neighbourhood
 |
| Pope Francis at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on December 4, 2018.(Vatican Media) |
At his morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday, Pope
Francis spoke about how Christians can prepare for Christmas by building peace
in one's soul, in the family and in the world through humility.
By Robin Gomes
Pope Francis is urging Christians to prepare themselves this
Advent season for Christmas by being humble and trying to build peace in their
soul, in their family and in the world.
Delivering a homily at Mass, Friday morning at the Casa
Santa Marta in the Vatican, the Pope said that peacemaking is a bit like
imitating God, who humbled Himself without talking evil of others or hurting
them.
Pointing to the pastoral scene evoked by Isaiah in the first
reading, where the wolf and the lamb, and the leopard and the kid live side by
side harmlessly, the Pope said the prophet speaks about the peace of Jesus that
transforms life and history, which is why He is called the "Prince of
Peace".
The soul
Advent, therefore, is the time to prepare ourselves for this
Prince of Peace by being at peace with ourselves, our soul, that is often in
anxiety, anguish and without hope. For this, one needs to start
with oneself.
The Pope said that today the Lord asks us whether our soul
is at peace? If not, then we should ask the Prince of Peace to pacify our
souls, so we can meet Him. The Pope said we are so used looking at
the souls of others rather than our own.
Family
After being at peace with our soul, it is time to be at
peace at home, in the family, the Pope said. He noted much sadness in
families with much struggle, “small wars” and at times disunity.
He urged Christians to examine themselves whether they are
at peace or at war in their families or against others, whether there are
bridges or walls that separate.
Neighbourhood
The Pope then spoke about making peace in the world where
there is much war, disunity, hatred and exploitation. Christians should
ask themselves what they are doing about creating peace in the world by working
for peace in the neighbourhood, in the school and in the workplace.
The Pope urged Christians to ask themselves whether they
find excuses to make war, to hate, to talk ill about others and condemn or are
they meek and try to build bridges.
Peacemaking like God
Peace, the Pope said, is never still but always moves
forward. It starts with the soul, and after making its journey of peace,
returns to the soul. Making peace is a bit like imitating God. When He
wanted to make peace with us and forgave us, He sent His Son to make peace, to
be the Prince of peace. The Pope said to be a peacemaker one does not have to
be wise and learned and study peace. Peace is an attitude that Jesus
speaks about in the Gospel. Jesus glorifies God because he has hidden
these things from the wise and learned and has revealed them to the little
ones.
Pope Francis urged Christians to make themselves small,
humble and be the servant of others. “The Lord will give you the ability
to understand how to make peace and will provide you the strength to
make it,” the Pope assured.
Stop short of "small wars"
The Pope said that whenever there is the possibility of a
“small war” at home, in the heart, at school or at work, we should stop short
and try and make peace. “Never, never wound the other. Never,” he said,
exhorting Christians to start by not speaking ill of others or firing the first
cannon. This way, he said, we become men and women of peace, carrying
peace forward.
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