This morning's General Audience began at 10:00am in Saint Peter's Square where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every part of the world.
In his speech, the Pope continued his meditations on mercy from the perspective of the gospel, focusing on the miraculous healing of the leper (Lk 5:12-16).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Lord, if you wish, you can purify me! (Lk 5:12): this was the questions that we heard. It was asked of Jesus by a leper. This man was not only seeking to be healed, but to be purified, that is to be fully healed in body and in spirit. In fact, leprosy was considered to be a kind of curse from God, a profound impurity. Lepers had to keep far away from everyone else; they could not enter the temple and therefore could not access any divine favours. Distanced from God and distanced from men. These people led a very sad life!
Nonetheless, this leper was not resigned either to his illness nor to the customs that considered him to be an outcast. In order to reach Jesus, he was not afraid to break the law and enter the city - something that he should not have done, since he was forbidden from entering - and when he found him he thew himself down before him, begging him: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me (Lk 5:12). Everything that this man, who was considered to be impure, did and said was an expression of faith! He recognized Jesus' power: he was sure that he would be able to heal him and that everything depended on his willingness. This faith is a strength that made it possible for him to break every convention and to seek a meeting with Jesus and, falling on his knees before him, to call him Lord. The leper's question shows us that when we present ourselves to Jesus, it is not necessary for us to make long speeches. Just a few words are needed, provided that they are accompanied by full faith in his power and his goodness. Entrusting ourselves to the will of God means in fact resigning ourselves to his infinite mercy. Here, I will tell you something about myself. At night, before I go to bed, I pray this brief prayer: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me. Then I pray five Our Fathers, one for every one of Jesus' wounds, because Jesus was purified through his wounds. But this is something I do, you too can do it, in your home; say: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me! ... and think about Jesus' wounds and say Our Father ... for each one of them. Jesus will always hear us.
Jesus is deeply affected by this man. The Gospel of Mark points out that he had compassion for him, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him: I do wish it, be purified (Mk 1:41). Jesus gesture accompanies his words and makes his teaching more explicit. Contrary to the provisions of the Law of Moses, which prohibited anyone from approaching a leper (cf Lev 13:45-46), Jesus stretches out his hand and even touches him. How often do we encounter a poor person who is looking to us for help! We can also be generous, we can have compassion, but usually we do not touch that person. We offer money, we throw them out, but we often avoid touching his hand. We forget that he is the body of Christ! Jesus teaches us to not be afraid to touch the poor and those who are excluded, for he himself is there within them. Touching the poor can purify us of leprosy and make us restless for his condition. To touch those who are excluded. Today, these young people are with me here. Many people think of them as though it would be better if they were to remain in their places, but they suffer so much. These are our refugees, but many people consider them to be the excluded ones. Please, they are our brothers! A Christian cannot exclude anyone, he finds a place for everyone, he allows everyone to come close.
After having healed the leper, Jesus commanded him not to speak to anyone; instead, he said: Go, show yourself to the priests and make the offering for your purification as Moses has commanded, as a testimony for them (Lk 5:14). Jesus' provision shows us at least three things. The first is: the grace that is at work in us does not seek sensationalism. It usually works quietly and without any fanfare. It works patiently, dressing our wounds, and guiding our path to wholeness, moulding our hearts to make them more like the Lord's heart, so that we can think and feel more and more like he does. Second: by officially verifying the healing that has taken place, something that is done by the priests, and celebrating the sin offering, the leper is readmitted into the community of believers and the life of society. His re-entry completes his healing. As he himself had asked, now he is completely purified! Finally, presenting himself to the priests, the leper bears witness to them about Jesus and his messianic authority. The strength of compassion with which Jesus healed the leper caused this man's faith to be opened to the mission that had been entrusted to him. He was excluded, but now he is one of us.
We can think about ourselves, our own sufferings ... Every one of us has our own sufferings. We can think about them sincerely. How often do we cover them up with the hypocrisy of good manners, and then we need to be alone, we need to fall on our knees before the Lord and pray: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me! Do it, do it before going to bed, every night. Now, together, let us pray this beautiful prayer: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me!
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and he offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Scotland, Sweden, China and the United States of America. In a special way I greet the many student groups present. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his speech, the Pope continued his meditations on mercy from the perspective of the gospel, focusing on the miraculous healing of the leper (Lk 5:12-16).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Catechesis of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Lord, if you wish, you can purify me! (Lk 5:12): this was the questions that we heard. It was asked of Jesus by a leper. This man was not only seeking to be healed, but to be purified, that is to be fully healed in body and in spirit. In fact, leprosy was considered to be a kind of curse from God, a profound impurity. Lepers had to keep far away from everyone else; they could not enter the temple and therefore could not access any divine favours. Distanced from God and distanced from men. These people led a very sad life!
Nonetheless, this leper was not resigned either to his illness nor to the customs that considered him to be an outcast. In order to reach Jesus, he was not afraid to break the law and enter the city - something that he should not have done, since he was forbidden from entering - and when he found him he thew himself down before him, begging him: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me (Lk 5:12). Everything that this man, who was considered to be impure, did and said was an expression of faith! He recognized Jesus' power: he was sure that he would be able to heal him and that everything depended on his willingness. This faith is a strength that made it possible for him to break every convention and to seek a meeting with Jesus and, falling on his knees before him, to call him Lord. The leper's question shows us that when we present ourselves to Jesus, it is not necessary for us to make long speeches. Just a few words are needed, provided that they are accompanied by full faith in his power and his goodness. Entrusting ourselves to the will of God means in fact resigning ourselves to his infinite mercy. Here, I will tell you something about myself. At night, before I go to bed, I pray this brief prayer: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me. Then I pray five Our Fathers, one for every one of Jesus' wounds, because Jesus was purified through his wounds. But this is something I do, you too can do it, in your home; say: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me! ... and think about Jesus' wounds and say Our Father ... for each one of them. Jesus will always hear us.
Jesus is deeply affected by this man. The Gospel of Mark points out that he had compassion for him, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him: I do wish it, be purified (Mk 1:41). Jesus gesture accompanies his words and makes his teaching more explicit. Contrary to the provisions of the Law of Moses, which prohibited anyone from approaching a leper (cf Lev 13:45-46), Jesus stretches out his hand and even touches him. How often do we encounter a poor person who is looking to us for help! We can also be generous, we can have compassion, but usually we do not touch that person. We offer money, we throw them out, but we often avoid touching his hand. We forget that he is the body of Christ! Jesus teaches us to not be afraid to touch the poor and those who are excluded, for he himself is there within them. Touching the poor can purify us of leprosy and make us restless for his condition. To touch those who are excluded. Today, these young people are with me here. Many people think of them as though it would be better if they were to remain in their places, but they suffer so much. These are our refugees, but many people consider them to be the excluded ones. Please, they are our brothers! A Christian cannot exclude anyone, he finds a place for everyone, he allows everyone to come close.
After having healed the leper, Jesus commanded him not to speak to anyone; instead, he said: Go, show yourself to the priests and make the offering for your purification as Moses has commanded, as a testimony for them (Lk 5:14). Jesus' provision shows us at least three things. The first is: the grace that is at work in us does not seek sensationalism. It usually works quietly and without any fanfare. It works patiently, dressing our wounds, and guiding our path to wholeness, moulding our hearts to make them more like the Lord's heart, so that we can think and feel more and more like he does. Second: by officially verifying the healing that has taken place, something that is done by the priests, and celebrating the sin offering, the leper is readmitted into the community of believers and the life of society. His re-entry completes his healing. As he himself had asked, now he is completely purified! Finally, presenting himself to the priests, the leper bears witness to them about Jesus and his messianic authority. The strength of compassion with which Jesus healed the leper caused this man's faith to be opened to the mission that had been entrusted to him. He was excluded, but now he is one of us.
We can think about ourselves, our own sufferings ... Every one of us has our own sufferings. We can think about them sincerely. How often do we cover them up with the hypocrisy of good manners, and then we need to be alone, we need to fall on our knees before the Lord and pray: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me! Do it, do it before going to bed, every night. Now, together, let us pray this beautiful prayer: Lord, if you wish, you can purify me!
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and he offered greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. To English-speaking pilgrims, he said:
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Scotland, Sweden, China and the United States of America. In a special way I greet the many student groups present. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
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