At noon today in Rome (6:00am EST), the Holy Father, Pope Francis 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 passage presents short parables, with which Jesus wants to point out to his disciples what we need to do in order to live wisely. With the question: Can a blind man lead another blind man? (Lk 6:39), He wants to point out that a guide can not be blind, but must see well, that is, he must possess the wisdom to move wisely, otherwise he risks causing damage to people who rely on him. In this way, Jesus draws the attention of those who have educational or leadership responsibilities: pastors of souls, public authorities, legislators, teachers, parents, urging them to be aware of their delicate role and to always discern the right path by which they should lead people.
And Jesus borrows a wisdom expression to indicate himself as a model of a teacher and guide who is worthy of being followed: "A disciple is not greater than his teacher; but everyone who is well prepared will be like his teacher "(Lk 6:40). This is an invitation to follow his example and his teaching to be safe and wise guides. And this teaching is especially contained in the sermon on the mount, which is offered to us during the liturgies of three Sundays, indicating the attitude of meekness and mercy that is central to being sincere, humble and just people. In today's passage we find another significant phrase, one that exhorts us not to be presumptuous and hypocritical. He says: Why do you look at the straw in your brother's eye and do not notice the beam in your eye? (Lk 6:41). So many times, we all know, it is easier or more convenient to discern and condemn the defects and sins of others, without being able to see our own with just as much clarity. We always hide our faults, we also hide them from ourselves; instead, it is easy to see the defects of others. The temptation is to be indulgent with ourselves - we have wide sleeves with ourselves - and judgemental with others. It is always useful to help others with wise counsel, but while we observe and correct the defects of our neighbours, we must also be aware that we ourselves have defects. If I believe I do not have such defects, I can not condemn or correct others. We all have flaws: every one of us. We must be aware of this and, before condemning others, we must look within ourselves. In that way, we can act in a credible way, with humility, witnessing to charity.
How can we understand whether our eyes are free or if they are blocked by a beam? Here again, Jesus tells us: There is no good tree that produces bad fruit, nor is there any bad tree that produces a good fruit. In fact every tree is recognized by its fruit (Lk 6:43-44). The fruit that we bear is actions, but also words. The quality of the tree is also known from our words. In fact, those who is good draw good and bad from our hearts and our mouths and those who is bad draw out evil, practicing the most harmful exercise among us, which is murmuring, chattering and speaking badly about others. This destroys; it destroys the family, destroys the school, destroys the workplace, destroys the neighbourhood. Wars begin as a result of language. Let us think a little bit about this teaching of Jesus and ask ourselves the question: do I speak badly about others? Do I always try to get others dirty? Is it easier for me to see the faults of others than my own? And we can try to correct ourselves at least a little: it will do us good, and it will be good for everyone.
Let us ask for the support and the intercession of Mary so that we can follow the Lord on this path.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet all of you, from Rome, from Italy and from other countries, especially the pilgrims from Warsaw, Madrid, Ibiza and Formentera.
I greet the community from the minor Seminary in the Diocese of Otranto who are on a pilgrimage to Rome along with their parents.
Today, there are many Italian parishes present, many young people who have recently been Confirmed and many graduates from schools. It is not possible for me to name every group, but I thank you all for your presence and I encourage you to continue your journey with joy, generosity, and bearing witness everywhere to the goodness and the mercy of the Lord.
And I wish you all a good Sunday! Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
(Original text in Italian)
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today's Gospel passage presents short parables, with which Jesus wants to point out to his disciples what we need to do in order to live wisely. With the question: Can a blind man lead another blind man? (Lk 6:39), He wants to point out that a guide can not be blind, but must see well, that is, he must possess the wisdom to move wisely, otherwise he risks causing damage to people who rely on him. In this way, Jesus draws the attention of those who have educational or leadership responsibilities: pastors of souls, public authorities, legislators, teachers, parents, urging them to be aware of their delicate role and to always discern the right path by which they should lead people.
And Jesus borrows a wisdom expression to indicate himself as a model of a teacher and guide who is worthy of being followed: "A disciple is not greater than his teacher; but everyone who is well prepared will be like his teacher "(Lk 6:40). This is an invitation to follow his example and his teaching to be safe and wise guides. And this teaching is especially contained in the sermon on the mount, which is offered to us during the liturgies of three Sundays, indicating the attitude of meekness and mercy that is central to being sincere, humble and just people. In today's passage we find another significant phrase, one that exhorts us not to be presumptuous and hypocritical. He says: Why do you look at the straw in your brother's eye and do not notice the beam in your eye? (Lk 6:41). So many times, we all know, it is easier or more convenient to discern and condemn the defects and sins of others, without being able to see our own with just as much clarity. We always hide our faults, we also hide them from ourselves; instead, it is easy to see the defects of others. The temptation is to be indulgent with ourselves - we have wide sleeves with ourselves - and judgemental with others. It is always useful to help others with wise counsel, but while we observe and correct the defects of our neighbours, we must also be aware that we ourselves have defects. If I believe I do not have such defects, I can not condemn or correct others. We all have flaws: every one of us. We must be aware of this and, before condemning others, we must look within ourselves. In that way, we can act in a credible way, with humility, witnessing to charity.
How can we understand whether our eyes are free or if they are blocked by a beam? Here again, Jesus tells us: There is no good tree that produces bad fruit, nor is there any bad tree that produces a good fruit. In fact every tree is recognized by its fruit (Lk 6:43-44). The fruit that we bear is actions, but also words. The quality of the tree is also known from our words. In fact, those who is good draw good and bad from our hearts and our mouths and those who is bad draw out evil, practicing the most harmful exercise among us, which is murmuring, chattering and speaking badly about others. This destroys; it destroys the family, destroys the school, destroys the workplace, destroys the neighbourhood. Wars begin as a result of language. Let us think a little bit about this teaching of Jesus and ask ourselves the question: do I speak badly about others? Do I always try to get others dirty? Is it easier for me to see the faults of others than my own? And we can try to correct ourselves at least a little: it will do us good, and it will be good for everyone.
Let us ask for the support and the intercession of Mary so that we can follow the Lord on this path.
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Dear brothers and sisters,
I greet all of you, from Rome, from Italy and from other countries, especially the pilgrims from Warsaw, Madrid, Ibiza and Formentera.
I greet the community from the minor Seminary in the Diocese of Otranto who are on a pilgrimage to Rome along with their parents.
Today, there are many Italian parishes present, many young people who have recently been Confirmed and many graduates from schools. It is not possible for me to name every group, but I thank you all for your presence and I encourage you to continue your journey with joy, generosity, and bearing witness everywhere to the goodness and the mercy of the Lord.
And I wish you all a good Sunday! Please, don't forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch and good bye!
(Original text in Italian)
No comments:
Post a Comment