HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS
Saint Peter's Square
Sunday, 27 October 2013
Sunday, 27 October 2013
The readings this
Sunday invite us to reflect on some basic features of the Christian family.
1. First: the family prays. The
Gospel passage speaks about two ways of praying, one is false – that of the
Pharisee – and the other is authentic – that of the tax collector. The
Pharisee embodies an attitude which does not express thanksgiving to God for
his blessings and his mercy, but rather self-satisfaction. […] The
tax collector, on the other hand, does not multiply words. His prayer is
humble, sober, pervaded by a consciousness of his own unworthiness, of his own
needs. Here is a man who truly realizes that he needs God’s forgiveness
and his mercy. […]
In the light of
God’s word, I would like to ask you, dear families: Do you pray together from
time to time as a family? Some of you do, I know. But so many
people say to me: But how can we? As the tax collector does, it is clear:
humbly, before God. […] But in the family how is this done? After all,
prayer seems to be something personal, and besides there is never a good time,
a moment of peace… Yes, all that is true enough, but it is also a matter
of humility, of realizing that we need God, like the tax collector! And
all families, we need God: all of us! We need his help, his strength, his
blessing, his mercy, his forgiveness. And we need simplicity to pray as a
family: simplicity is necessary! Praying the Our Father together, around the
table, is not something extraordinary: it’s easy. And praying the Rosary
together, as a family, is very beautiful and a source of great strength!
And also praying for one another! The husband for his wife, the wife for her
husband, both together for their children, the children for their
grandparents….praying for each other. This is what it means to pray in
the family and it is what makes the family strong: prayer.
2. The second
reading suggests another thought: the
family keeps the faith. The Apostle Paul, at the end of his
life, makes a final reckoning and says: “I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). But how did
he keep the faith? Not in a strong box! Nor did he hide it
underground, like the somewhat lazy servant. Saint Paul compares his life
to a fight and to a race. He kept the faith because he didn’t just defend
it, but proclaimed it, spread it, brought it to distant lands. […]
Here too, we can
ask: How do we keep our faith as a family? Do we keep it for ourselves,
in our families, as a personal treasure like a bank account, or are we able to
share it by our witness, by our acceptance of others, by our openness? We
all know that families, especially young families, are often “racing” from one
place to another, with lots to do. But did you ever think that this
“racing” could also be the race of faith? Christian families are
missionary families. Yesterday in this square we heard the testimonies of
missionary families. They are missionary also in everyday life, in their doing
everyday things, as they bring to everything the salt and the leaven of faith!
Keeping the faith in families and bringing to everyday things the salt
and the leaven of faith.
3. And one more
thought we can take from God’s word: the
family experiences joy. In the responsorial psalm we find
these words: “let the humble hear and be glad” (33/34:2). The entire
psalm is a hymn to the Lord who is the source of joy and peace. What is the
reason for this gladness? It is that the Lord is near, he hears the
cry of the lowly and he frees them from evil. As Saint Paul himself
writes: “Rejoice always … The Lord is near” (Phil
4:4-5). I would like to ask you all a question today. But
each of you keep it in your heart and take it home. You can regard it as a kind
of “homework”. Only you must answer. How are things when it comes
to joy at home? Is there joy in your family? You can answer
this question.
Dear families,
you know very well that the true joy which we experience in the family is not
superficial; it does not come from material objects, from the fact that
everything seems to be going well... True joy comes from a profound
harmony between persons, something which we all feel in our hearts and which
makes us experience the beauty of togetherness, of mutual support along life’s
journey. But the basis of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of
God, the presence of God in the family and his love, which is welcoming,
merciful, and respectful towards all. And above all, a love which is
patient: patience is a virtue of God and he teaches us how to cultivate it in
family life, how to be patient, and lovingly so, with each other. To be patient
among ourselves; a patient love. God alone knows how to create harmony
from differences. But if God’s love is lacking, the family loses its
harmony, self-centeredness prevails and joy fades. But the family which
experiences the joy of faith communicates it naturally. That family is
the salt of the earth and the light of the world, it is the leaven of society
as a whole.
Dear families,
always live in faith and simplicity, like the Holy Family of Nazareth!
The joy and peace of the Lord be always with you!
Cited on October 27, 2013 from
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/homilies/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20131027_omelia-pellegrinaggio-famiglia_en.html
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