“On the day of our farewell, surprise rejoices as we now allow ourselves to be surprised by the presence of God that awaits us among the poor and wounded of the world.” this Wednesday (February 11) in the Vatican Basilica
Jane Nogara Vatican News
On the morning of this Wednesday (02.11), the day of the commemoration of the deceased, Pope Francis celebrated a Holy Mass in the suffrage of the cardinals and bishops who died during the year. The Pope began his homily by recalling the readings read, two words of which caught his attention: expectation and surprise.
Wait
Waiting, said Francis, “expresses the meaning of life, because we live in the expectation of the encounter: the encounter with God, which is the reason for our prayer of intercession today, especially for the cardinals and bishops who have died in the last year, for the we offer this Eucharistic Sacrifice”. And the Pope said: “It’s nice when the Lord comes to dry our tears! But it is not good if we expect someone other than the Lord to dry them. And even worse, not having tears.” He continued to speak on the subject, recalling, “Let’s nurture our hope in heaven, let’s exercise our desire for paradise. It is good for us today to ask ourselves if our desires have anything to do with heaven. For we run the risk of constantly striving for things that are passing away, confusing wants with needs, putting the world’s expectations before God.” Warning then:
“Let’s look up, for we are moving towards the higher, while things will not rise from here: the best careers, the greatest achievements, the most prestigious titles and awards, the wealth accumulated and earthly gains, all of it will disappear in it for a moment. . And all expectations placed in her will be disappointed forever.”
In conclusion he said: “Let us ask ourselves: Am I living what I say in the Creed: ‘I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come’? And how is my waiting time? Do I focus on the essentials or do I allow myself to be distracted by the superfluous? Do I cultivate hope or do I keep complaining because I put too much value on things that don’t count?”.
When was it
Referring to the second word of the readings, Francis said “surprisingly”: “Today’s Gospel helps us while we wait for tomorrow. Because the surprise is great every time we hear Matthew chapter 25. It’s similar to the protagonists saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you drink? collected you or naked and clothed you? When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? (verses 3739) When was that? .
What a surprise!
“When was it?” We can also say, continued the Pope: “We hope that the judgment of life and the world will take place under the banner of justice, before a decisive tribunal that will evaluate all the elements and clarify the situations and intentions forever.” The Pope warns again:
“Before the divine court the only judgment of merit and charge is mercy to the poor and outcast.” “The highest is in the little ones, he dwells in heaven among the lowest for the world. What a surprise!!”
“Your measure is a love beyond our measure and your method of evaluation is free. So, to prepare, we know what to do: love freely and endlessly, without expecting reciprocity, those who are on your likes list, those who have nothing to give us in return, those who don’t attract us.”
commitment to the gospel
Francis continues his homily, reflecting: “Let’s be realistic, we have become very good at compromising with the Gospel: feeding the hungry yes, but the problem of hunger is complex and I certainly cannot solve it! Helping the poor yes, but then injustices have to be dealt with in a certain way and then it is better to wait, also because you risk being constantly disturbed when you compromise and maybe you realize that you have it can do better!” . And he reminds everyone that it doesn’t work that way, “with the ‘but’ and ‘but’ we make life a commitment to the gospel. From simple disciples of the Master, we have become masters of complexity, who discuss a lot and do little, who look for answers more in front of the computer than in front of the crucifix,” said the Pope.
that when is now
“When was it? Both the just and the unjust ask themselves in surprise,” continues the Pope. Giving a clear answer: “The when is now. It is in our hands, in our works of mercy: not in detailed analysis, not in individual or societal justifications.” Then say:
“Today the Lord reminds us that death comes to reveal the truth of life and to remove every diminution of mercy.”
In conclusion, he said: “We cannot say that we do not know. The gospel explains how to live in expectation: one goes to God in love because he is love. And on the day of our farewell, surprise rejoices as we now allow ourselves to be surprised by the presence of God that awaits us among the poor and wounded of the world. And he expects to be caressed not with words but with deeds.