This morning's General Audience began at 10:00am in Saint Peter's Square, where the Holy Father, Pope Francis met groups of pilgrims and the faithful from Italy and from every part of the world.
During his speech, the Pope continued the cycle of catecheses on mercy from the biblical perspective, adding a meditation on the theme: Mercy and power (1 Kings 21:1b-4a).
After having summarized his teaching in various languages, Pope Francis addressed greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance.
The General Audience concluded with the chanting of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning.
We continue the catecheses on mercy in Sacred Scripture. In various passages, there is talk of power: the power of the kings, of men who are on high, and even of their arrogance and their abuses. Wealth and power are realities that can be good and useful for the common good, if they are placed at the service of the poor and of all people, with justice and charity. But when, as too often happens, these are understood as privileges, with selfishness and arrogance, they are transformed into instruments of corruption and death. This is what happens in the episode of the vineyard of Naboth, described in the first Book of Kings, Chapter 21, on which we will meditate today.
In this text, we are told that the king of Israel, Ahab, wants to buy the vineyard of a man named Naboth, because this vineyard adjoins the royal palace. The proposal seems legitimate, even generous, but in Israel, land was considered un-sellable. In fact, the book of Leviticus prescribes: The land can never be sold, for the land is mine and you are to me as aliens and guests (Lv 25:23). Land is sacred because it is a gift from the Lord, and therefore it must be guarded and preserved as a sign of divine blessing that is passed down from one generation to the next, a guarantee of dignity for all people. In this sense, we can understand the negative response Naboth gives to the king: The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors (1 Kings 21:3).
King Ahab reacts to this refusal with bitterness and anger. He feels offended - he is the king, the powerful one - yet diminished in his sovereign authority and frustrated at the possibility of not being able to satisfy his desire for possessions. Seeing him defeated, his wife Jezebel, a pagan queen who had built up cultic worship of idols and was killing the prophets of the Lord (cf 1 Kings 18:4) - she wasn't only brutish; she was evil! - decides to intervene. The words that she speaks to the king are very significant. We can feel the nastiness within this woman: This is how you exercise regal power over Israel? Get up, eat and let your heart rejoice. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Nazarite (1 Kings 18:7). She places emphasis on the prestige and power of the king who, in her opinion, is being questioned by Naboth's refusal. A power that is usually considered as absolute and because of which every wish of the king becomes an order. The great Saint Ambrose wrote a little book on this episode. It is called Naboth. It would be good to read it during this Lenten season. It is very good, very concrete.
Recalling these events, Jesus says: You know that the governors of nations dominate over their subjects and their leaders oppress them, but among you, it will not be like this; whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave (Mt 20:25-27). If we lose the dimension of service, power is transformed into arrogance and becomes dominion and overpowering. This is what happened in the episode of Naboth's vineyard. Jezebel, the queen, in a very daring manner, decides to eliminate Naboth and to put his plan into action. She uses deceptive appearances and a perverse legal system: to send letters in the name of the king to the elderly and nobles of the city, ordering that false testimonies publicly accusing Naboth of having cursed God and the king, a crime punishable by death. As a result, with Naboth dead, the king could take possession of his vineyard. This is not a story from another time, it is also a modern-day story, a story of the powerful who exploit the poor, exploit people in order to earn more money. It is the story of human trafficking, of slave labour, of poor people who work in sad conditions and with minimum salaries so that the powerful grow richer. It is the story of corrupt politicians who want more and more and more! This is the reason why I said that it would be good to read that little book by Saint Ambrose about Naboth, because it is a book that speaks about current events.
This is the result of the exercise of authority that does not respect life, justice or mercy. This is what happens as a result of a thirst for power: it eventually becomes greed that seeks to possess everything. A text from the prophet Isaiah is particularly illuminating in this respect. In it, the Lord warns against the greed of wealthy landowners who always seek to possess more houses and more land. The prophet Isaiah says:
Woe to you, who add house to house
and field to field,
until there is no more space,
and you live alone on the land (Is 5:8).
And the prophet Isaiah was not a communist! On the other hand, God is greater than all evil and dirty games that human beings play. In his mercy, he sends the prophet Elijah to help Ahab to convert. Now we turn the page, and what happens in the next part of the story? God sees this crime and knocks even at the heart of Ahab and the king, placing him before his sin, until understanding, he is humbled and asks for forgiveness. How beautiful it would be if the powerful exploiters of today were to do the same! The Lord accepts his repentance; however, an innocent man was killed and the culpability committed would inevitably carry consequences. In fact, all evil that is committed leaves its painful marks, and the history of mankind bears the resulting wounds.
Even in this case, mercy shows the main path that must be followed. Mercy can heal wounds and change history. Open your heart to mercy! Divine mercy is stronger than mankind's sins. It is stronger, this is the example of Ahab! We do not know how powerful it is when we remember the coming of the Innocent Son of God who became man in order to destroy evil with his forgiveness. Jesus Christ is the true king, but his power is completely different. His throne is the cross. He is not a king who kills, but on the contrary, he gives life. He goes in search of everyone, especially the most vulnerable, defeating the loneliness and the destiny of death that leads to sin. Through is closeness to us and his tenderness, Jesus Christ brings sinners into the space of grace and forgiveness. This is the mercy of God.
As is usually the case, the above catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each of the groups of pilgrims 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, Sweden, Gabon, Mozambique and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!
During his speech, the Pope continued the cycle of catecheses on mercy from the biblical perspective, adding a meditation on the theme: Mercy and power (1 Kings 21:1b-4a).
After having summarized his teaching in various languages, Pope Francis addressed greetings to each group of pilgrims in attendance.
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.
We continue the catecheses on mercy in Sacred Scripture. In various passages, there is talk of power: the power of the kings, of men who are on high, and even of their arrogance and their abuses. Wealth and power are realities that can be good and useful for the common good, if they are placed at the service of the poor and of all people, with justice and charity. But when, as too often happens, these are understood as privileges, with selfishness and arrogance, they are transformed into instruments of corruption and death. This is what happens in the episode of the vineyard of Naboth, described in the first Book of Kings, Chapter 21, on which we will meditate today.
In this text, we are told that the king of Israel, Ahab, wants to buy the vineyard of a man named Naboth, because this vineyard adjoins the royal palace. The proposal seems legitimate, even generous, but in Israel, land was considered un-sellable. In fact, the book of Leviticus prescribes: The land can never be sold, for the land is mine and you are to me as aliens and guests (Lv 25:23). Land is sacred because it is a gift from the Lord, and therefore it must be guarded and preserved as a sign of divine blessing that is passed down from one generation to the next, a guarantee of dignity for all people. In this sense, we can understand the negative response Naboth gives to the king: The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors (1 Kings 21:3).
King Ahab reacts to this refusal with bitterness and anger. He feels offended - he is the king, the powerful one - yet diminished in his sovereign authority and frustrated at the possibility of not being able to satisfy his desire for possessions. Seeing him defeated, his wife Jezebel, a pagan queen who had built up cultic worship of idols and was killing the prophets of the Lord (cf 1 Kings 18:4) - she wasn't only brutish; she was evil! - decides to intervene. The words that she speaks to the king are very significant. We can feel the nastiness within this woman: This is how you exercise regal power over Israel? Get up, eat and let your heart rejoice. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Nazarite (1 Kings 18:7). She places emphasis on the prestige and power of the king who, in her opinion, is being questioned by Naboth's refusal. A power that is usually considered as absolute and because of which every wish of the king becomes an order. The great Saint Ambrose wrote a little book on this episode. It is called Naboth. It would be good to read it during this Lenten season. It is very good, very concrete.
Recalling these events, Jesus says: You know that the governors of nations dominate over their subjects and their leaders oppress them, but among you, it will not be like this; whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave (Mt 20:25-27). If we lose the dimension of service, power is transformed into arrogance and becomes dominion and overpowering. This is what happened in the episode of Naboth's vineyard. Jezebel, the queen, in a very daring manner, decides to eliminate Naboth and to put his plan into action. She uses deceptive appearances and a perverse legal system: to send letters in the name of the king to the elderly and nobles of the city, ordering that false testimonies publicly accusing Naboth of having cursed God and the king, a crime punishable by death. As a result, with Naboth dead, the king could take possession of his vineyard. This is not a story from another time, it is also a modern-day story, a story of the powerful who exploit the poor, exploit people in order to earn more money. It is the story of human trafficking, of slave labour, of poor people who work in sad conditions and with minimum salaries so that the powerful grow richer. It is the story of corrupt politicians who want more and more and more! This is the reason why I said that it would be good to read that little book by Saint Ambrose about Naboth, because it is a book that speaks about current events.
This is the result of the exercise of authority that does not respect life, justice or mercy. This is what happens as a result of a thirst for power: it eventually becomes greed that seeks to possess everything. A text from the prophet Isaiah is particularly illuminating in this respect. In it, the Lord warns against the greed of wealthy landowners who always seek to possess more houses and more land. The prophet Isaiah says:
Woe to you, who add house to house
and field to field,
until there is no more space,
and you live alone on the land (Is 5:8).
And the prophet Isaiah was not a communist! On the other hand, God is greater than all evil and dirty games that human beings play. In his mercy, he sends the prophet Elijah to help Ahab to convert. Now we turn the page, and what happens in the next part of the story? God sees this crime and knocks even at the heart of Ahab and the king, placing him before his sin, until understanding, he is humbled and asks for forgiveness. How beautiful it would be if the powerful exploiters of today were to do the same! The Lord accepts his repentance; however, an innocent man was killed and the culpability committed would inevitably carry consequences. In fact, all evil that is committed leaves its painful marks, and the history of mankind bears the resulting wounds.
Even in this case, mercy shows the main path that must be followed. Mercy can heal wounds and change history. Open your heart to mercy! Divine mercy is stronger than mankind's sins. It is stronger, this is the example of Ahab! We do not know how powerful it is when we remember the coming of the Innocent Son of God who became man in order to destroy evil with his forgiveness. Jesus Christ is the true king, but his power is completely different. His throne is the cross. He is not a king who kills, but on the contrary, he gives life. He goes in search of everyone, especially the most vulnerable, defeating the loneliness and the destiny of death that leads to sin. Through is closeness to us and his tenderness, Jesus Christ brings sinners into the space of grace and forgiveness. This is the mercy of God.
As is usually the case, the above catechesis was then summarized in various languages, and the Holy Father offered greetings to each of the groups of pilgrims 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, Sweden, Gabon, Mozambique and the United States of America. With prayerful good wishes that the present Jubilee of Mercy will be a moment of grace and spiritual renewal for you and your families, I invoke upon all of you joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!
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