Pope at Mass: May Europe be
united in dream of the Founding Fathers
Pope Francis prays at Mass on Wednesday for Europe to show
unity in response to the Covid-19 crisis, and reflects on the depth of God’s
love for us. (Playback included)
By Devin Watkins
As he began Mass in the Casa Santa Marta on Wednesday
morning, Pope Francis urged all nations to be united as they face the Covid-19
pandemic. He prayed especially for Europe.
“At this moment in which unity is very necessary between
ourselves and between nations, we pray today for Europe, so that Europe might
succeed in creating this fraternal unity dreamt of by the founding fathers of
the European Union.”
God loves us madly
In his homily, the Pope reflected on Jesus’ words to
Nicodemus in the day’s Gospel (Jn 3:16-21): “God so loved the world that he
gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not
perish but might have eternal life.”
Pope Francis said this passage contains a wealth of
theological revelation about Redemption.
He focused his attention on two aspects: the revelation of
God’s love and the existential choice between light and darkness.
“God loves us,” said the Pope. “He loves us madly. As one
saint used to say, God’s love seems like madness.”
Cross contains all Christian wisdom
The cross, said Pope Francis, is the highest expression of
this love. He added that everything is revealed to those who contemplate the
cross.
"So many people, so many Christians, pass time
gazing at the Crucified... And there they find everything because they have
understood. The Holy Spirit teaches them that therein lies all science, all of
God’s love, and all Christian wisdom. Saint Paul speaks about this, explaining
that all human reasoning is useful only up to a certain point. But true
reasoning – the most beautiful way of thinking which also explains everything –
is the cross of Christ, is Christ crucified, who is scandal and madness. But He
is the way. And this is the love of God. God so loved the world that He
gave His only-begotten Son. Why? So that everyone who believes in Him might not
perish but might have eternal life. This is the love of the Father who wants
His children with Him."
Light over darkness
Pope Francis then reflected on the choice between light and
darkness. He said there are some people – “including us sometimes” – who are
unable to live in the light, because they have become accustomed to darkness.
“Light blinds them and they cannot see. They are like
human bats: they can only move about during the night. We ourselves, when we
are in a state of sin, find ourselves in this condition, unable to tolerate the
light. It is easier to live in the darkness; light slaps us on the face and
shows us what we don’t want to see.”
Corruption blinds
Though it is difficult to face what the light reveals to us,
said Pope Francis, it is worse when the eyes of the soul become ignorant of the
light.
“So many human scandals and corruption teach us this.
Those who are corrupt do not know what the light is, and don’t recognize it.”
Child of God… Or bat?
Pope Francis concluded inviting us to let the light of God’s
love shine in our lives through the Holy Spirit. And we can ask ourselves:
“Do I walk in the light or in darkness? Am I a child of
God? Or have I ended up like a bat?”
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