At noon today (Rome time), the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to recite the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today's gospel (cf Mt 23:1-12) is set during the final days of Jesus' life in Jerusalem; days that were filled with expectations and tensions. On one hand, Jesus severely criticizes the scribes and the Pharisees, and on the other hand, he leaves some important advise for Christians of all ages, including our time.
He says to the crowds: The scribes and Pharisees sit on the chair of Moses. Practice and observe everything that they tell you to. This was meant to show that they had the authority to teach that which was in conformity with the Law of God. However, immediately after these words, Jesus adds: but do not do as they do, because they say and do not do (Mt 23:2-3). Brothers and sisters, a frequent problem with those who have authority - whether that authority is civil or ecclesiastical, is that of demanding things of others - which are sometimes justified - that they themselves are not willing to do. They lead a double life. Jesus says: They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them (Mt 23:4). This attitude is an exercise in badly used authority, which should instead find its primary strength in the provision of good example. Authority is rooted in good example, helping others to practice that which is just and right, supporting them in the trials that they encounter on the path of goodness. Authority is meant to help, but if it is badly exercised, it becomes oppressive, it does not allow people to grow and it creates a climate of mistrust and hostility, and it can lead to corruption.
Jesus openly denounces some of the negative behaviours of the scribes and some of the Pharisees: They love to have the places of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogue, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces (Mt 23:6-7). This is a temptation that corresponds to human pride and that is not always easy to overcome. It is the attitude of living only for the sake of appearances.
Then Jesus gives the remedy to his disciples: You are not to be called rabbi, for you have only one Teacher and you are all brothers ... And call no one your 'leader' for you have only one Leader: the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant (Mt 23:8-11).
We disciples of Jesus should not seek titles of honour, authority or supremacy. I can tell you that for me personally, it makes me sad to see people who are psychologically living by hiding behind the vanity of honours. We, disciples of Jesus, must not do this, for among us there must always be an attitude of simplicity and fraternity. We are all brothers and in no way must we overpower others and look down upon them. No. We are all brothers. If we have received the qualities of our heavenly Father, we must use them in service of our brothers, and not take advantage of them for our own satisfaction and personal interests. We must not consider ourselves superior to others; modesty is essential for an existence that seeks to conform to the teachings of Jesus, who is gentle and humble in heart, who came not to be served but to serve.
The Virgin Mary, humble and higher than any other creature (Dante, Paradiso, XXXIII, 2), helps us, with her maternal intercession, to turn away from pride and vanity, and to be humble and docile to the love that comes from God, for the service of our brothers and sisters and for their joy, which is also our joy.
At the completion of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Yesterday in Indore (India), Regina Maria Vattalil, a religious woman from the Congregation of the Franciscan Clarisse Sisters, killed for her Christian faith in 1995, was beatified. Sister Vattalil bore witness to Christ in love and meekness, and united herself to the long line of martyrs of our time. May her sacrifice be a seed of faith and of peace, especially in the land of India. She was a very good woman. They called her the smiling Sister.
I greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims, especially those who have come from Gomel in Bielorussia; the members of the Centro Académico Romano Fundación from Madrid; the faithful from Valencia, Murcia and Torrente (Spain); and the Irmãs da Divina Providência Sisters who are celebrating the 175th anniversary of their Institute.
I greet the youth choir known as I Minipolifonici from Trento - afterward, you must sing something! - the Canadiana, Maser and Bagnoli choirs from Sopra; those from various other countries who are participating in the Festival of Music and Sacred Art; the faithful from Altamura, Guidonia, Lodi and from the parish of San Luca in Rome.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today's gospel (cf Mt 23:1-12) is set during the final days of Jesus' life in Jerusalem; days that were filled with expectations and tensions. On one hand, Jesus severely criticizes the scribes and the Pharisees, and on the other hand, he leaves some important advise for Christians of all ages, including our time.
He says to the crowds: The scribes and Pharisees sit on the chair of Moses. Practice and observe everything that they tell you to. This was meant to show that they had the authority to teach that which was in conformity with the Law of God. However, immediately after these words, Jesus adds: but do not do as they do, because they say and do not do (Mt 23:2-3). Brothers and sisters, a frequent problem with those who have authority - whether that authority is civil or ecclesiastical, is that of demanding things of others - which are sometimes justified - that they themselves are not willing to do. They lead a double life. Jesus says: They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them (Mt 23:4). This attitude is an exercise in badly used authority, which should instead find its primary strength in the provision of good example. Authority is rooted in good example, helping others to practice that which is just and right, supporting them in the trials that they encounter on the path of goodness. Authority is meant to help, but if it is badly exercised, it becomes oppressive, it does not allow people to grow and it creates a climate of mistrust and hostility, and it can lead to corruption.
Jesus openly denounces some of the negative behaviours of the scribes and some of the Pharisees: They love to have the places of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogue, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces (Mt 23:6-7). This is a temptation that corresponds to human pride and that is not always easy to overcome. It is the attitude of living only for the sake of appearances.
Then Jesus gives the remedy to his disciples: You are not to be called rabbi, for you have only one Teacher and you are all brothers ... And call no one your 'leader' for you have only one Leader: the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant (Mt 23:8-11).
We disciples of Jesus should not seek titles of honour, authority or supremacy. I can tell you that for me personally, it makes me sad to see people who are psychologically living by hiding behind the vanity of honours. We, disciples of Jesus, must not do this, for among us there must always be an attitude of simplicity and fraternity. We are all brothers and in no way must we overpower others and look down upon them. No. We are all brothers. If we have received the qualities of our heavenly Father, we must use them in service of our brothers, and not take advantage of them for our own satisfaction and personal interests. We must not consider ourselves superior to others; modesty is essential for an existence that seeks to conform to the teachings of Jesus, who is gentle and humble in heart, who came not to be served but to serve.
The Virgin Mary, humble and higher than any other creature (Dante, Paradiso, XXXIII, 2), helps us, with her maternal intercession, to turn away from pride and vanity, and to be humble and docile to the love that comes from God, for the service of our brothers and sisters and for their joy, which is also our joy.
At the completion of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
Yesterday in Indore (India), Regina Maria Vattalil, a religious woman from the Congregation of the Franciscan Clarisse Sisters, killed for her Christian faith in 1995, was beatified. Sister Vattalil bore witness to Christ in love and meekness, and united herself to the long line of martyrs of our time. May her sacrifice be a seed of faith and of peace, especially in the land of India. She was a very good woman. They called her the smiling Sister.
I greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims, especially those who have come from Gomel in Bielorussia; the members of the Centro Académico Romano Fundación from Madrid; the faithful from Valencia, Murcia and Torrente (Spain); and the Irmãs da Divina Providência Sisters who are celebrating the 175th anniversary of their Institute.
I greet the youth choir known as I Minipolifonici from Trento - afterward, you must sing something! - the Canadiana, Maser and Bagnoli choirs from Sopra; those from various other countries who are participating in the Festival of Music and Sacred Art; the faithful from Altamura, Guidonia, Lodi and from the parish of San Luca in Rome.
I wish you all a good Sunday. Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
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