This morning at 9:00am local time in Rome, the seventh General Congregation of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family began with the celebration of Mid-morning Prayer.
During the time of prayer, His Excellency, Lúcio Andrice Muandula, Bishop of Xai-Xai (Mozambique), shared the following homily with those who were present:
In every way, O Lord, you have made your people great and glorious; you have never failed to help them at any time or place (Wis 19:22).
The book of Wisdom, from which the words we have just heard are taken, was most probably written in Alexandria, Egypt and it was intended above all for Jews in the diaspora who, because of the influence of the Hellenists were at risk of believing in idols, and therefore of completely abandoning their faith in the God of the Covenant with the Fathers.
In this passage, through the presentation of two characteristic figures of the wisdom writings: the just (or wise): the image of the Israelite believer, faithful to the tradition of the fathers; and the impious (or foolish): the image of the pagans and of those dedicated to idolatry (Wis 19:13-15), the sacred author addresses numerous Jews who already in the second century BC, were established in Alexandria, a reflection on the actions of God and of man, inspired by the biblical tradition and aimed at strengthening their faith and their hope.
In fact, contact with the Hellenistic world, with which the author enters into dialogue and at times even controversy, had helped to present the biblical wisdom as a divine gift which leads to salvation, a gift which could be welcomed (as the Israelites had done), while it equally brought to light the sins of those who would refuse it (as the Egyptians and the pagans had done).
With this in mind, the passage we have just heard demonstrates a true profession of faith on the part of the sacred author, rooted in the biblical hope of the Exodus; it is also an invitation for us, to allow ourselves to be guided by biblical wisdom, in the midst of a world that is increasingly globalized, with which we are called to establish a dialogue in faith and in which there is always a risk of losing our faith in God and of adopting a completely pagan lifestyle.
May the good Lord enlighten us with His Spirit of wisdom in our work today and lead us to understand that He never forgets his people, but is always close to them with the gift of His salvation in Jesus Christ His Son.
During the time of prayer, His Excellency, Lúcio Andrice Muandula, Bishop of Xai-Xai (Mozambique), shared the following homily with those who were present:
Homily of His Excellency, Lúcio Andrice Muandula
Bishop of Xai-Xai (Mozambique)
In every way, O Lord, you have made your people great and glorious; you have never failed to help them at any time or place (Wis 19:22).
The book of Wisdom, from which the words we have just heard are taken, was most probably written in Alexandria, Egypt and it was intended above all for Jews in the diaspora who, because of the influence of the Hellenists were at risk of believing in idols, and therefore of completely abandoning their faith in the God of the Covenant with the Fathers.
In this passage, through the presentation of two characteristic figures of the wisdom writings: the just (or wise): the image of the Israelite believer, faithful to the tradition of the fathers; and the impious (or foolish): the image of the pagans and of those dedicated to idolatry (Wis 19:13-15), the sacred author addresses numerous Jews who already in the second century BC, were established in Alexandria, a reflection on the actions of God and of man, inspired by the biblical tradition and aimed at strengthening their faith and their hope.
In fact, contact with the Hellenistic world, with which the author enters into dialogue and at times even controversy, had helped to present the biblical wisdom as a divine gift which leads to salvation, a gift which could be welcomed (as the Israelites had done), while it equally brought to light the sins of those who would refuse it (as the Egyptians and the pagans had done).
With this in mind, the passage we have just heard demonstrates a true profession of faith on the part of the sacred author, rooted in the biblical hope of the Exodus; it is also an invitation for us, to allow ourselves to be guided by biblical wisdom, in the midst of a world that is increasingly globalized, with which we are called to establish a dialogue in faith and in which there is always a risk of losing our faith in God and of adopting a completely pagan lifestyle.
May the good Lord enlighten us with His Spirit of wisdom in our work today and lead us to understand that He never forgets his people, but is always close to them with the gift of His salvation in Jesus Christ His Son.
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