At noon today, 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 who had gathered in Saint Peter's Square for the regular Sunday appointment.
This Sunday's gospel (Mt 13:1-23) presents Jesus preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and since there is a great crowd gathered around him, he gets into a boat, and pulls out from the shore in order to preach from there. When he speaks to the people, Jesus uses many parables: a language that can be understood by everyone, with images drawn from nature and from situations of daily life.
The first such story that he tells is an introduction to all the other parables: the one about the sower, who without holding back, throws his seeds on every kind of terrain. The true hero of this parable is the sower, who produces more or less grain depending on the terrain on which the seed falls. The first three such terrains don't produce anything: along the way, the seeds are eaten up by birds; on rocky ground, the shoots dry out quickly because they have no roots; in the midst of weeks, the seed is choked by thorns. The fourth terrain is good earth, and only there does the seed manage to bear fruit.
In this case, Jesus is not limited to preaching a parable, he also explains it to the disciples. The seed which fell on the path represents people who hear the proclamation of the Kingdom of God but who do not welcome such news; the Evil One comes and takes it away. In fact, the Evil One doesn't want the seed of the gospel to take root in our hearts. This is the first comparison. The second is that of the seed that falls on rocky ground: this represents people who hear the word of God and who are quick to welcome it, but only superficially, because they have no roots and are inconsistent; and when difficulties and tribulations arrive, these persons are immediately defeated. The third case is that of the seed that falls among thorns: Jesus explains that this is a reference to those who hear the word but, because of worldly preoccupations and the lure of riches, they become suffocated. Finally, the seed falls on fertile land, representing those who hear the word, welcome it, care for it and understand it, and it bears fruit. The Virgin Mary is the perfect model of this good earth.
This parable speaks to every one of us today, as it was addressed to every one of those who was listening to Jesus two thousand years ago. It reminds us that we are the earth where the Lord constantly and untiringly throws the seed of his Word and his love. Do we welcome them? Do we ask ourselves: how is my heart? What kind of land does it look like: a street, rocky ground, a thorn bush? It's up to us to become good earth, free of thorns and stones, tilled and cultivated with care, so that we can bear good fruit for our own good and for that of our brothers and sisters.
We should also remember that we too are sowers. God sows good seed, and here too we can ask ourselves: what kind of seed comes out of my heart and from my mouth? Our words can do so much good and also so much harm; they can heal and they can wound; they can encourage and they can discourage. Let us always remember: that which is important is not what enters, but what comes out of our mouths and our hearts.
May Our Lady teach us, through her example, to welcome the Word, to care for it, and to allow it to bear fruit in our hearts and in the hearts of others.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
I extend a heartfelt appeal to all of you to continue to pray earnestly for peace in the Holy Land, in the light of the tragic events of recent days. I still vividly recall the meeting of June 8 with Patriarch Bartholomew, President Peres and President Abbas, with whom we invoked the gift of peace and heard the call to break the cycle of hatred and violence. Some might think that such a meeting took place in vain. But no, because prayer helps us not to allow ourselves to be overcome by evil, nor resign ourselves to violence and hatred taking over dialogue and reconciliation. I urge the parties concerned and all those who have political responsibility at local and international levels to spare a prayer and make some effort to put an end to all hostilities and to achieve the desired peace for the good of all. And I invite everyone to be united in prayer. In silence everyone, let us pray.
The Pope and the faithful then took a moment to pray.
Now, Lord, help us! Grant us peace, teach us peace, guide us toward peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: Never again war! Everything is destroyed by war. Strengthen us in courage to take concrete actions to build peace ... Make us willing to listen to the cry of our citizens who are asking us to transform our weapons into instruments of peace, our fears into trust, and our tensions into forgiveness.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I greet you all cordially, Romans and pilgrims!
Today marks Sea Sunday. I turn my thoughts to seafarers, fishermen and their families. I urge the Christian communities, particularly those living on coasts, that they be attentive and sensitive towards them. I invite the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea to continue their commitment to the pastoral care of these brothers and sisters. I entrust all, especially those who are in difficulty and away from home, to the maternal protection of Mary, Star of the Sea.
I join in prayer the pastors and the faithful who are participating in the pilgrimage of the Family of Radio Maria at Jasna Gora, Czestochowa. Thank you for your prayers and I cordially bless you.
I now greet with affection all the spiritual sons and daughters of Saint Camillus of Lellis, which tomorrow marks the 400th anniversary of his death. I invite the Camillan family, at the height of this jubilee year, to be a sign of the Lord Jesus who, as the Good Samaritan, tends to the wounds of the body and the spirit of suffering humanity, pouring the oil of consolation and the wine of hope. To you who have gathered here in Saint Peter's Square, as well as to health professionals serving in your hospitals and nursing homes, I wish that you grow more and more in the charism of charity, fueled by daily contact with the sick.
I wish everyone a good Sunday and a good lunch. Goodbye!
Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
This Sunday's gospel (Mt 13:1-23) presents Jesus preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and since there is a great crowd gathered around him, he gets into a boat, and pulls out from the shore in order to preach from there. When he speaks to the people, Jesus uses many parables: a language that can be understood by everyone, with images drawn from nature and from situations of daily life.
The first such story that he tells is an introduction to all the other parables: the one about the sower, who without holding back, throws his seeds on every kind of terrain. The true hero of this parable is the sower, who produces more or less grain depending on the terrain on which the seed falls. The first three such terrains don't produce anything: along the way, the seeds are eaten up by birds; on rocky ground, the shoots dry out quickly because they have no roots; in the midst of weeks, the seed is choked by thorns. The fourth terrain is good earth, and only there does the seed manage to bear fruit.
In this case, Jesus is not limited to preaching a parable, he also explains it to the disciples. The seed which fell on the path represents people who hear the proclamation of the Kingdom of God but who do not welcome such news; the Evil One comes and takes it away. In fact, the Evil One doesn't want the seed of the gospel to take root in our hearts. This is the first comparison. The second is that of the seed that falls on rocky ground: this represents people who hear the word of God and who are quick to welcome it, but only superficially, because they have no roots and are inconsistent; and when difficulties and tribulations arrive, these persons are immediately defeated. The third case is that of the seed that falls among thorns: Jesus explains that this is a reference to those who hear the word but, because of worldly preoccupations and the lure of riches, they become suffocated. Finally, the seed falls on fertile land, representing those who hear the word, welcome it, care for it and understand it, and it bears fruit. The Virgin Mary is the perfect model of this good earth.
This parable speaks to every one of us today, as it was addressed to every one of those who was listening to Jesus two thousand years ago. It reminds us that we are the earth where the Lord constantly and untiringly throws the seed of his Word and his love. Do we welcome them? Do we ask ourselves: how is my heart? What kind of land does it look like: a street, rocky ground, a thorn bush? It's up to us to become good earth, free of thorns and stones, tilled and cultivated with care, so that we can bear good fruit for our own good and for that of our brothers and sisters.
We should also remember that we too are sowers. God sows good seed, and here too we can ask ourselves: what kind of seed comes out of my heart and from my mouth? Our words can do so much good and also so much harm; they can heal and they can wound; they can encourage and they can discourage. Let us always remember: that which is important is not what enters, but what comes out of our mouths and our hearts.
May Our Lady teach us, through her example, to welcome the Word, to care for it, and to allow it to bear fruit in our hearts and in the hearts of others.
After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
I extend a heartfelt appeal to all of you to continue to pray earnestly for peace in the Holy Land, in the light of the tragic events of recent days. I still vividly recall the meeting of June 8 with Patriarch Bartholomew, President Peres and President Abbas, with whom we invoked the gift of peace and heard the call to break the cycle of hatred and violence. Some might think that such a meeting took place in vain. But no, because prayer helps us not to allow ourselves to be overcome by evil, nor resign ourselves to violence and hatred taking over dialogue and reconciliation. I urge the parties concerned and all those who have political responsibility at local and international levels to spare a prayer and make some effort to put an end to all hostilities and to achieve the desired peace for the good of all. And I invite everyone to be united in prayer. In silence everyone, let us pray.
The Pope and the faithful then took a moment to pray.
Now, Lord, help us! Grant us peace, teach us peace, guide us toward peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: Never again war! Everything is destroyed by war. Strengthen us in courage to take concrete actions to build peace ... Make us willing to listen to the cry of our citizens who are asking us to transform our weapons into instruments of peace, our fears into trust, and our tensions into forgiveness.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I greet you all cordially, Romans and pilgrims!
Today marks Sea Sunday. I turn my thoughts to seafarers, fishermen and their families. I urge the Christian communities, particularly those living on coasts, that they be attentive and sensitive towards them. I invite the chaplains and volunteers of the Apostleship of the Sea to continue their commitment to the pastoral care of these brothers and sisters. I entrust all, especially those who are in difficulty and away from home, to the maternal protection of Mary, Star of the Sea.
I join in prayer the pastors and the faithful who are participating in the pilgrimage of the Family of Radio Maria at Jasna Gora, Czestochowa. Thank you for your prayers and I cordially bless you.
I now greet with affection all the spiritual sons and daughters of Saint Camillus of Lellis, which tomorrow marks the 400th anniversary of his death. I invite the Camillan family, at the height of this jubilee year, to be a sign of the Lord Jesus who, as the Good Samaritan, tends to the wounds of the body and the spirit of suffering humanity, pouring the oil of consolation and the wine of hope. To you who have gathered here in Saint Peter's Square, as well as to health professionals serving in your hospitals and nursing homes, I wish that you grow more and more in the charism of charity, fueled by daily contact with the sick.
I wish everyone a good Sunday and a good lunch. Goodbye!
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