Pope at Mass prays for members of
the Red Cross and Red Crescent
Pope Francis offers Mass on Friday for the members of the
Red Cross and Red Crescent Organizations and in his homily reflects on Jesus as
our consoler.
By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ
Introducing the Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Friday of
the Fourth Week of Easter, Pope Francis turned his thoughts to the members of
the Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations.
“Today is World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day. Let us pray
for the people who work in these meritorious institutions. May the Lord bless
their work that does so much good.”
Jesus our consoler
Beginning his homily, the Pope pointed out that the setting
of the Gospel Reading was gloomy. Jesus was at dinner with His disciples. They
were sad because Jesus had said that one of them would betray Him.
Seeing the disciples’ sad disposition, Jesus began to console them since one of
Jesus’s many roles was to be a consoler.
Pope Francis remarked that consolation can come in many
forms: genuine, formal, or even inauthentic. However, Jesus’s way of consoling
us in times of difficulty is different. It takes three forms: nearness, truth
and hope.
Nearness
The consolation of Jesus is always close – never distant.
God drew near to us in the Incarnation. When Jesus consoles, He does not use
empty words. He says to us “I am here; I am with you.” The force of His
presence and His closeness speaks to us even though it is silent.
Truth
Pope Francis remarked that the Gospel passage demonstrates
that Jesus did not hide the truth from His disciples. He let them know that His
death was near. However, Jesus spoke the truth gently, without seeking to hurt
His disciples. Jesus speaks the truth because he is “the Way, the Truth and the
Life.”
Hope
Jesus consoled His disciples and restored their hope. He
said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. In my Father’s house, there are many
dwelling places. I am going to prepare a place for you” (Jn. 14:2).
The Pope noted that Jesus goes ahead of us to open the doors
of heaven for all of us. As Jesus reassures His disciples that He would come
back to take them with Him, so He will come back to take us. Jesus does not
promise that we will not suffer but rather that when we do, he will be close to
us to console us.
The Pope’s prayer
Concluding his homily, Pope Francis pointed out that “It is
not easy to allow ourselves to be consoled by the Lord.” In bad times, we may
become angry with God and we do not allow Him to console us.
Pope Francis prayed that we might allow ourselves to be consoled
by the Lord. His consolation “is nearness, He is truth, and He opens the doors
of hope”.
Birthday wishes
At the conclusion of the Mass, Pope Francis wished Happy
Birthdady to Silvia, a receptionist at the Casa Santa Marta.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét