(Vatican Radio) Christians who harden their hearts and refuse to be drawn towards Christ are like orphans, without a father. That was Pope Francis message on Tuesday as he reflected on the daily readings during his homily at Mass in the Vatican’s Santa Marta chapel.
Philippa Hitchen reports:
Pope Francis began his sermon by recalling the question that the skeptical Jews kept asking Jesus every time he performed a miracle, preached in the temple or pointed the way to the Father:
“How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
That question, which the Pope said the Scribes and Pharisees repeat in many different ways, springs from a heart that is closed and blind to the faith. As Jesus explains in today’s Gospel reading, “you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep”. Being part of God’s flock, he said, is a grace which requires an open heart.
“My sheep hear my voice”, Jesus says in that reading, “I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand”. Have these sheep studied how to follow Jesus and then believed, the Pope asked? No, he said, citing the words from St John’s Gospel, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all”. It is the Father who gives the sheep to the shepherd. It is the Father who draws our hearts to Jesus.
The hardness of the Scribes and Pharisees’ hearts, is a drama which continues all the way to Calvary, the Pope said. They see the works that Jesus performs but they refuse to believe he is the Messiah. Even after the Resurrection, the Pope recalled, this drama continues as the soldiers guarding the tomb are told to say they’d fallen asleep in order to give credit to the story that the disciples had stolen the body of Christ. Not even the witness of those who saw the Risen Christ was able to reach those who refused to believe. And this has its consequences, the Pope said, because they are orphans who have denied their Father.
These doctors of the law, he went on, had closed hearts, they thought they were their own masters but in fact they were orphans because they had no relationship with the Father. They talked about their fathers, Abraham and the patriarchs, but these were distant figures and in their hearts they were orphans because they would not let themselves be drawn to the Father.
On the contrary, the Pope said, reflecting on the first reading for the day, the news that reached Jerusalem of the many pagans who heard the disciples preaching in Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch and turned to the faith, shows what it means to have a heart open to God. Like Barnabas, he said, who is sent to Antioch to confirm these rumours and is not scandalized by the conversion of the pagans but accepts this novelty and lets himself be drawn by the Father to Jesus.
Pope Francis concluded by saying Jesus invites us to be his disciples but to be so, we must let ourselves be drawn by the Father towards Him. The humble prayer we can say is: ‘Father, lead me to Jesus, help me to know Jesus’ and the Father will send the Spirit to open our hearts and lead us to Him. A Christian who doesn’t allow himself to be led by the Father is an orphan, but we have a Father who can lead us to Jesus.
(from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) The President of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, met on Monday with the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach. Meeting at IOC headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, the two men discussed the “Sport at the Service of Humanity” Conference scheduled to take place from 5 to 7 October at the Vatican Synod Hall. Supported by the IOC and the United Nations, it will be the first global conference on faith and sport. The meeting will gather leaders from all areas of society to look at how faith and sport can use their respective influence to promote positive values. Pope Francis is expected to open the conference, which will also feature keynote speeches by Mr. Bach and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. “It will be an occasion to come together to face up to the great challenges of contemporary society, which are shared interests for the world’s sporting and religious communities: how to live with respect for all, with increased understanding of each other’s traditions and values, more full and healthy lives, more integrated communities,” Cardinal Ravasi said. “Sport is also of such fundamental importance for education, allowing young people especially to open up to the trials of life, putting themselves to the test, crossing boundaries, meeting opponents on a fair playing field while striving to the best they can be, in some sense aiming for the Transcendent,” the Cardinal added. President Bach said the role of sport is “always to build bridges, it is never to build walls.” “Sport stands for dialogue and understanding which transcend all differences. Sport, and the Olympic Movement especially, understands the global diversity of cultures, societies and life designs as a source of richness,” Mr. Bach said. “The first global conference on faith and sport will be the perfect opportunity to reflect how sport and its values can support social change, community development and the promotion of peace and human rights along with faith principles across all religions,” concluded the IOC President. (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Tuesday delivered a video message to the administration, staff, volunteers, and guests of the Centro Astalli welcome centre for refugees in Rome, which is operated by the Society of Jesus through the Jesuit Refugee Service in Italy. The Centro Astalli is marking the 35 th anniversary of its founding. Below, please find Vatican Radio’s English translation of the Holy Father’s remarks in the video message *********************************** Dear refugees, volunteers, workers and friends of the Centro Astalli , During this year of Mercy, we’re marking the 35 th anniversary of Jesuit Service for refugees in Italy, an activity that has been above all a walk together, as one people. And this is beautiful and just! We must continue with courage: “ I was a stranger and you invited me in ” cfr Mt 25,35 I was a stranger… Each one of you refugees who knock on our doors has the face of God and is the body of Christ. Your experience of pain and hope reminds us that we are all strangers and pilgrims on this Earth, welcomed by someone with generosity and without any merit. Whosoever has fled his own land due to oppression, war, nature defaced by pollution and by desertification, or the unjust distribution of the planet’s resources, as you have, is a brother with whom we share bread, homes and life. Too many times you have not been welcomed: forgive the closure and indifference of our society that fears the change in lifestyle and mentality that your presence asks for. Treated as a burden, a problem, a cost, instead you are a gift. You are the testament to how our gracious and merciful God can transform the pain and injustice that you suffer into a love for all. For, each one of you can be a bridge that unites distant peoples, which makes the meeting of different cultures and religions possible, a road to rediscover our common humanity. …and you invited me in. I was a stranger and you invited me in . Yes, the Centro Astalli is a concrete, daily example of this welcome, born of the prophetic vision of Father Pedro Arrupe, SJ. It was his dying wish, [expressed] at a refugee center in Asia. Thanks to you all, women and men, lay and religious, workers and volunteers, because in fact you show that if we walk together we are less afraid. I encourage you to continue. 35 years is only the beginning of a journey that is ever more necessary, the only way for a reconciled co-existence. Always be witnesses of the beauty of this encounter. Help our society to listen to the voice of refugees. Continue to walk with courage by their side, go with them and be guided by them: the refugees know the roads that lead to peace because they know the acrid odor of war. (from Vatican Radio)…
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Monday with the President of the Central African Republic, Faustin Archange Touadéra, recalling the warm welcome he received during his pastoral journey to that country last November. During his visit to the Vatican, the President also held talks with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
A statement from the Holy See press office said the cordial talks between the Pope and the President noted how the recent electoral process and the ongoing institutional reforms are taking place in a constructive manner, supported by dialogue between the different religious communities. The two leaders expressed the desire that this process may mark the start of an era of peace and prosperity for the entire nation.
At the same time, discussions also focused on the way the consequences of the years of conflict still weigh heavily on the people of the CAR, stressing the need for the international community to continue to support the development of the country.
The statement said the two leaders also spoke about the good bilateral relations between the Holy See and the Central African Republic, sharing the hope that those relations may be further consolidated through legal instruments in the context of international law.
Finally the communique said appreciation was expressed for the contribution of the Catholic Church and its pastors to the wellbeing of society in the CAR, especially in the fields of education, health care, reconciliation and national reconstruction.
(from Vatican Radio)…
The direction for Christian life are quite
simple. There is no need to go searching for advice: suffice it follow a voice,
like sheep do with their shepherd. The image of Jesus the Good Shepherd was the
focus of Pope Francis’ homily during Mass at Santa Marta on Monday, 18 April. The
liturgy of the day offers a sort of “echo of the readings” of the Fourth Sunday
of Easter, which is called “Good Shepherd Sunday, in which Jesus presents
himself as the ‘Good Shepherd’”. Commenting on this theme in the Gospel of John
(10:1-10), the Pontiff highlighted “three realities” on which he chose “to
reflect a bit: the door, the path, and the voice”. First
the “door”. The Gospel passage presents Jesus’ words: “Truly, truly, I say to
you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another
way, that man is a thief and a robber”. This is the first image, Francis
emphasized: “He is the door: the door by which to enter the sheepfold is Jesus.
There is no other”. It is worth noting, the Pope said, that Jesus always spoke
to the people using “simple images”. Indeed, “those people all knew what a
shepherd’s life was, because they saw it every day”. Therefore those who heard
him understood very well: “the sheepfold is entered only through the door”.
Those who would rather enter the fold “through the window or by some other
means are criminals”. The Gospel defines them as thieves and a robbers. Thus
it is all very clear: “One cannot enter eternal life through another way that
is not the door, that is, which is not Jesus”. And, the Pontiff added, the Lord
“is the door of our life— and not only of eternal life but also of our daily
life”. Thus, for example, any decision can be taken “in the name of Jesus,
through the door of Jesus”. Or, to use “simple language”, one can take it by
“smuggling”. But the Lord “speaks clearly”. The sheepfold is entered “only
through the door, which is Jesus”. The
Gospel of John continues, and the words of the Lord offer another important
element: that of the “path”. Indeed, we read that the gatekeeper opens the door
to the shepherd, that “the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by
name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before
them, and the sheep follow him”. Here,
Francis offered a second key word: “path: following Jesus”. This too involves
everyday life: indeed, we speak of the “path of life, of everyday life”, which
“is following Jesus”. Here too the direction is clear: “Do not go astray!”, the
Pope advised. It is Jesus “who is the door through which we enter and through
which we exit with him to take the path of life”. It is Jesus who “shows us the
way”. Thus, “those who follow Jesus do not go astray”. The
direction is clear, but there are many occasions to go astray, so the Pontiff
hypothesized a situation that might present itself: “Yes, Father, but things
are difficult…. Many times I co not clearly see what to do…. They told me
that there was a fortune teller and I went there; I went to a fortune teller
and he read my cards…”. The Pope’s advice was immediate: “If you do this, you
aren’t following Jesus! You are following someone else, who gives you another,
different path”, because “there is no one else who can point out the path”. This
describes a problem that Jesus warned us about: “There will be others who will
say: the path of the Messiah is this, this…. Do not listen! Do not listen to
them. I am the way!”. This, the Pope said, is certain: “If we follow him we are
not mistaken”. Finally
the third word: “voice”. The sheep follow Jesus “because they know his voice”.
The Pontiff expanded on the concept to prevent any misunderstanding: “Know the
voice of Jesus! Do not imagine that I am speaking about an apparition, that
Jesus will come and say to you: ‘Do this’. No, no!”. Someone might ask:
“Father, how can I recognize Jesus’ voice? And also protect myself from the
voice of those who are not Jesus, who come in through the window, who are
robbers, who destroy, who deceive?”. Once again the recipe is simple, with
three instructions. First of all, Francis suggested, “you will find Jesus’
voice in the Beatitudes”. Therefore, those who teach “a path contrary to the
Beatitudes are those who have entered through the window: they are not Jesus!”.
Then, Jesus’ voice can be recognized in those who “speak to us about the works
of mercy. For example, in Chapter 25 of St Matthew”. Thus, the Pope clarified,
“if someone tells you what Jesus says there, it is the voice of Jesus”. Last,
the third indication: “you can recognize the voice of Jesus when they teach you
to say ‘Father’, that is, when they teach you to pray the Our Father”. The
Pontiff’s conclusion: “Christian life is this simple! Jesus is the door. He
leads us on the path and we recognize his voice in the Beatitudes, in the works
of mercy and when he teaches us to say ‘Father’”. The Pope added a prayer:
“that the Lord help us to understand this image of Jesus, this icon: the
shepherd, who is the door, points to the path and teaches us to hear his
voice”….