During this morning's recitation of the liturgical Hour of Terce (Mid-morning Prayer), a homily was shared by His Beatitude, Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Leader of the Synod of the Chaldean Church:
In fact, I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for the salvation of all those who believe; first for Jews and then for Greeks; for therein, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written: 'The just shall live by faith' (Rom 1:16-17)
This text is a true synthesis of the gospel and of the journey of a shepherd. For a long time, Paul had a desire to visit the Christian community in Rome, to be present among them to share the gospel with them. This was a mission that involved his whole life, his whole heart and mind; it could not be a career. Living our faith in communion gives us comfort through the faith that we share in communion.
Paul is an apostle who feels that he is sent by God. For him, the gospel is an act of worship, and therefore a prayer. To be in communion with God, to love, to obey and to live is a witness to the joy of proclaiming the gospel every day; therefore he is not ashamed of the gospel. So it is that he does not make his proclamation for the sake of human opportunities or hypocritical respect, but believes in the gospel as a gift of incalculable importance that reveals the justice and grace of God. Faith is the basic condition for being justified and made children of God since it is faith that gives sense to life: The just live by faith. Faith is not a statistic fact, or a speculation, but rather an interior vision, a mystical and deeply profound relationship, lived in the details of difficult daily lives. Faith, like love is a commitment and should grow day after day throughout the long journey of life: from faith to faith.
How can we reconcile love and justice. If love is not superior to justice, the Gospel is empty.
We need to feel the experience of the Iraqi Christians who lost everything in one night in order to remain faithful to their faith.
Homily prepared by His Beatitude, Louis Raphaël I Sako
Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans
In fact, I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for the salvation of all those who believe; first for Jews and then for Greeks; for therein, the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written: 'The just shall live by faith' (Rom 1:16-17)
This text is a true synthesis of the gospel and of the journey of a shepherd. For a long time, Paul had a desire to visit the Christian community in Rome, to be present among them to share the gospel with them. This was a mission that involved his whole life, his whole heart and mind; it could not be a career. Living our faith in communion gives us comfort through the faith that we share in communion.
Paul is an apostle who feels that he is sent by God. For him, the gospel is an act of worship, and therefore a prayer. To be in communion with God, to love, to obey and to live is a witness to the joy of proclaiming the gospel every day; therefore he is not ashamed of the gospel. So it is that he does not make his proclamation for the sake of human opportunities or hypocritical respect, but believes in the gospel as a gift of incalculable importance that reveals the justice and grace of God. Faith is the basic condition for being justified and made children of God since it is faith that gives sense to life: The just live by faith. Faith is not a statistic fact, or a speculation, but rather an interior vision, a mystical and deeply profound relationship, lived in the details of difficult daily lives. Faith, like love is a commitment and should grow day after day throughout the long journey of life: from faith to faith.
How can we reconcile love and justice. If love is not superior to justice, the Gospel is empty.
We need to feel the experience of the Iraqi Christians who lost everything in one night in order to remain faithful to their faith.
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