This morning's General Audience began at 9:20am in Saint Peter's Square, where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every corner of the world.
In his speech, the Pope, continuing the cycle of catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, added his meditation on the theme: You will only find yourselves fighting against God! (Acts 5:39). The criteria of discernment proposed by the wise Gamaliel. (Acts 5:34-35.38-39).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. Then, he issued a call for prayer for World Alzheimer Day, which is observed on 21 September.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Let us continue the catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles. Faced with the fact that the Jews had prohibited them from teaching in the name of Christ, Peter and the Apostles responded with courage, saying that they could not obey those who wanted to stop the journey of the Gospel in the world.
In this way, the Twelve showed that they possessed that obedience of faith which they would then want to arouse in all men (cf Rom 1:5). Starting at Pentecost, in fact, they were no longer alone. They experienced that special synergy that made them decentralize themselves and had them say: we and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32) or the Holy Spirit and us (Acts 15:28). They felt that they could not say I alone, they were men decentralized by themselves. Strengthened by this covenant, the Apostles did not let themselves be intimidated by anyone. They had impressive courage! We think these were cowards: they all ran away, they ran away when Jesus was arrested. But, from cowards they became so brave. Why? Because the Holy Spirit was with them. The same happens to us: if we have the Holy Spirit inside, we will have the courage to move forward, the courage to win many struggles, not for ourselves but for the Spirit that is with us. We cannot retreat, but we must march as intrepid witnesses of the Risen Jesus, like the martyrs of all times, including ours. Martyrs give their lives, they do not hide the fact that they are Christians. We can think, a few years ago - even today there are many - but we can think of only four years ago, those Coptic Orthodox Christians, real workers, on the beach of Libya: all of them were slaughtered. But the last word they said was Jesus, Jesus. They had not sold off the faith, because there was the Holy Spirit with them. These are the martyrs of today! The Apostles are the megaphones of the Holy Spirit, sent by the Risen One to spread the Word that gives salvation promptly and without hesitation.
And indeed, this determination makes the Jewish religious system tremble, which feels threatened and responds with violence and death sentences. The persecution of Christians is always the same: people who do not want Christianity feel threatened and thus bring death to Christians. But, in the midst of the Sanhedrin, the different voice of a Pharisee rises, one who chooses to stem the reaction of his own: his name was Gamaliel, a prudent man, a doctor of the Law, esteemed by all the people. At his school Saint Paul learned to observe the law of the fathers (cf Acts 22:3). Gamaliel takes the floor and shows his brothers how to exercise the art of discernment in the face of situations that go beyond the usual patterns.
Citing some characters who had been passed off as Messiah, he shows that every human plan can first receive acclaim and then be shipwrecked, while everything that comes from above and carries the signature of God is destined to last. Human projects always fail; they have a time, like us. Think of any one of so many political endeavours, and how they change from one side to the other, in all countries. Think of the great empires, think of the dictatorships of the last century: they felt very powerful, they thought they dominated the world. And then they all collapsed. Even today, think of today's empires: they will collapse, if God is not with them, because the strength that men have in themselves is not lasting. Only the strength of God endures. Let us think of the history of Christians, including the history of the Church, with so many sins, with so many scandals, with so many bad things during these two millennia. And why didn't it collapse? Because God is there. We are sinners, and still, so often we give scandal. But God is with us. And God saves us first, and then them; but the Lord always saves. Strength is God with us. Gamaliel demonstrates, by quoting some characters who had been passed off as Messiahs, that every human project can first receive acclaim and then be shipwrecked. Therefore, Gamaliel concludes that, if the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth believed an impostor, they would be destined to disappear into thin air; if instead they follow one who comes from God, it is better to give up fighting them; and he warns: Do not happen to find yourself even fighting against God (Acts 5:39). This example teaches us to make this discernment.
These are calm and far-sighted words, which allow us to see the Christian event with a new light and offer criteria that know of the Gospel, because they invite us to recognize the tree by its fruits (cf Mt 7:16). They touch hearts and achieve the desired effect: the other members of the Sanhedrin follow his opinion and renounce their intentions of death, that is to kill the Apostles.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to act in us so that, both personally and as a community, we can acquire the habit of discernment. Let us ask him to always be able to see the unity of the history of salvation through the signs of the passage of God in our time and on the faces of those around us, because we learn that time and human faces are messengers of the living God.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages and His Holiness 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, especially those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Canada and the United States of America. In particular, I greet the members of the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons present in Rome for their annual meeting. Upon you and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of the Lord. May God bless you!
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father issued the following call for prayer:
On the 21 September, we will observe the World Day of Alzheimers, an illness that affects many men and women, who, because of this illness, are often victims of violence and abuse, abuse that tramples their dignity. We pray for the conversion of hearts and for those affected by Alzheimer's disease, for their families and for those who lovingly care for them. I also join you in praying, keeping the memory of those who suffering from cancer, so that they are also increasingly supported, both in the prevention and treatment of this disease.
In his speech, the Pope, continuing the cycle of catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles, added his meditation on the theme: You will only find yourselves fighting against God! (Acts 5:39). The criteria of discernment proposed by the wise Gamaliel. (Acts 5:34-35.38-39).
After having summarized his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father offered particular greetings to each group of the faithful in attendance. Then, he issued a call for prayer for World Alzheimer Day, which is observed on 21 September.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic blessing.
Catechesis of His Holiness, Pope Francis
for the General Audience
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Let us continue the catechesis on the Acts of the Apostles. Faced with the fact that the Jews had prohibited them from teaching in the name of Christ, Peter and the Apostles responded with courage, saying that they could not obey those who wanted to stop the journey of the Gospel in the world.
In this way, the Twelve showed that they possessed that obedience of faith which they would then want to arouse in all men (cf Rom 1:5). Starting at Pentecost, in fact, they were no longer alone. They experienced that special synergy that made them decentralize themselves and had them say: we and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32) or the Holy Spirit and us (Acts 15:28). They felt that they could not say I alone, they were men decentralized by themselves. Strengthened by this covenant, the Apostles did not let themselves be intimidated by anyone. They had impressive courage! We think these were cowards: they all ran away, they ran away when Jesus was arrested. But, from cowards they became so brave. Why? Because the Holy Spirit was with them. The same happens to us: if we have the Holy Spirit inside, we will have the courage to move forward, the courage to win many struggles, not for ourselves but for the Spirit that is with us. We cannot retreat, but we must march as intrepid witnesses of the Risen Jesus, like the martyrs of all times, including ours. Martyrs give their lives, they do not hide the fact that they are Christians. We can think, a few years ago - even today there are many - but we can think of only four years ago, those Coptic Orthodox Christians, real workers, on the beach of Libya: all of them were slaughtered. But the last word they said was Jesus, Jesus. They had not sold off the faith, because there was the Holy Spirit with them. These are the martyrs of today! The Apostles are the megaphones of the Holy Spirit, sent by the Risen One to spread the Word that gives salvation promptly and without hesitation.
And indeed, this determination makes the Jewish religious system tremble, which feels threatened and responds with violence and death sentences. The persecution of Christians is always the same: people who do not want Christianity feel threatened and thus bring death to Christians. But, in the midst of the Sanhedrin, the different voice of a Pharisee rises, one who chooses to stem the reaction of his own: his name was Gamaliel, a prudent man, a doctor of the Law, esteemed by all the people. At his school Saint Paul learned to observe the law of the fathers (cf Acts 22:3). Gamaliel takes the floor and shows his brothers how to exercise the art of discernment in the face of situations that go beyond the usual patterns.
Citing some characters who had been passed off as Messiah, he shows that every human plan can first receive acclaim and then be shipwrecked, while everything that comes from above and carries the signature of God is destined to last. Human projects always fail; they have a time, like us. Think of any one of so many political endeavours, and how they change from one side to the other, in all countries. Think of the great empires, think of the dictatorships of the last century: they felt very powerful, they thought they dominated the world. And then they all collapsed. Even today, think of today's empires: they will collapse, if God is not with them, because the strength that men have in themselves is not lasting. Only the strength of God endures. Let us think of the history of Christians, including the history of the Church, with so many sins, with so many scandals, with so many bad things during these two millennia. And why didn't it collapse? Because God is there. We are sinners, and still, so often we give scandal. But God is with us. And God saves us first, and then them; but the Lord always saves. Strength is God with us. Gamaliel demonstrates, by quoting some characters who had been passed off as Messiahs, that every human project can first receive acclaim and then be shipwrecked. Therefore, Gamaliel concludes that, if the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth believed an impostor, they would be destined to disappear into thin air; if instead they follow one who comes from God, it is better to give up fighting them; and he warns: Do not happen to find yourself even fighting against God (Acts 5:39). This example teaches us to make this discernment.
These are calm and far-sighted words, which allow us to see the Christian event with a new light and offer criteria that know of the Gospel, because they invite us to recognize the tree by its fruits (cf Mt 7:16). They touch hearts and achieve the desired effect: the other members of the Sanhedrin follow his opinion and renounce their intentions of death, that is to kill the Apostles.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to act in us so that, both personally and as a community, we can acquire the habit of discernment. Let us ask him to always be able to see the unity of the history of salvation through the signs of the passage of God in our time and on the faces of those around us, because we learn that time and human faces are messengers of the living God.
The Holy Father's catechesis was then summarized in various languages and His Holiness 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, especially those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Canada and the United States of America. In particular, I greet the members of the American Academy of Neurological Surgeons present in Rome for their annual meeting. Upon you and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of the Lord. May God bless you!
At the conclusion of the General Audience, the Holy Father issued the following call for prayer:
On the 21 September, we will observe the World Day of Alzheimers, an illness that affects many men and women, who, because of this illness, are often victims of violence and abuse, abuse that tramples their dignity. We pray for the conversion of hearts and for those affected by Alzheimer's disease, for their families and for those who lovingly care for them. I also join you in praying, keeping the memory of those who suffering from cancer, so that they are also increasingly supported, both in the prevention and treatment of this disease.
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