Pope : Assisi, a community should listen to the Word, walk together, bring the Gospel to the margins of society
Assisi ( AsiaNews) - Listen to the word of God, walk together in brother and sisterhood, proclaim the Gospel in the margins of society, which are not only places, but people and without " being blocked by prejudices , habits, mental or pastoral rigidity, the 'it has always been done this way". Because "the Church is growing but not through proselytism , the Church does not proselytize, the Church grows by attracting through the witness of its members".
This, for Pope Francis, must be
the "path" of a Christian community, indicated during his meeting
this afternoon with the clergy, consecrated persons and members of pastoral
councils of Assisi.
A
joint meeting after lunch that the Pope ate with the poor in the Caritas center
of the Donegiani square in Santa Maria degli Angeli. From
there it went to the Eremo
delle Carceri, or St Francis Hermitage, to pray in the Saints cell.
To the priests , religious and
laity in parishes, whom he met in the Cathedral of St. Rufino , the Pope then
traced the path of a community that really wants to call itself Christian . Starting
with the foundation: "one Spirit , one baptism , in the variety of
charisms and ministries. What a great gift to be Church , to be part of the
People of God in harmony , in a communion of diversity , which is the work of
the Holy Spirit , because
the Holy Spirit is harmony and fosters harmony. "
A
concept that the Pope then developed on during the next visit to the convent of
St. Clare . Speaking
to the sisters he urged them in their contemplation of Jesus, to a universality
of prayer, a community life that is " family life " . "
The convent is not a purgatory but a family ", "because when the life
of the community is the family, it is the Holy Spirit who dwells in the community."
In San Rufino , speaking of
" some aspects of community life ", " the first thing is to
listen to the Word of God. The Church is this : the community that listens with
faith and love of the Lord who speaks ."
"I
think we can all improve on this aspect a little: we must all become listeners
to the Word of God, be less abundant in our words and listen to the abundance
of His words . I think of the priest, who has the task of preaching . How can he
preach before
opening his heart to listen in silence, with his heart? He'll preach these endless
, tedious homilies, in which no one understands anything. I think of mothers
and fathers, who are the first educators : how can they educate if their consciousness
is not illuminated by the Word of God, if their way of thinking and acting is
not guided by the Word , How can they be of example to their children ? This is
important because then mothers and fathers complain about their children, but
did they speak the Word of God, or whatever they heard on the news? And I think
of catechists , of all educators: if their heart is not warmed by the Word ,
how can they warm the hearts of others, children , youth, adults? Do not just
read the Scriptures , we must listen to Jesus speaking in them , you have to be
transmitters, tuned into the Word of God, be transmitters! And the Spirit of
God that makes the scriptures come alive , helps us understand it in depth, in its true and full meaning . "
"The second aspect is that
of walking, journeying. It is one of my favorite words when I think of the
Christian and the Church." "
I think this is truly the most wonderful experience that we live : to be part
of a people on their journey through history , along with his Lord , who walks
among us ! We are not isolated , we do not walk alone, but are part of ' one flock of
Christ, walking together . "
"
Here I still think about you priests , and let me include myself with you. What
could be better for us than walking with our people ? I think these pastors who
know the name of the people of the parish, went
to find them, there was one that would say: I know the name of the dog of every
family, beautiful, that is most beautiful ! I am always saying to walk with our
people , sometimes in front , sometimes in the middle and at
times behind : in front , to guide the community , in the middle, to encourage
and support ; behind , to hold it together , so no one gets left behind , and
also because the people have "nose " to find new paths on the journey
, the " sensus fidei .
" what could be more beautiful ? " .
"
But the most important thing is to walk together, working together , helping
each other , to say sorry, acknowledge one's mistakes and ask for forgiveness ,
but also accept the apologies of others forgiving - how important is this !
Sometimes I think of the marriages that break down after so many years of broken:
' we didn't understand each other any more, we had grown distant'. Perhaps they
were not able to say sorry, maybe they were not able to forgive. I always say
to newly-weds to follow this advice : argue all you want, let the dishes fly...
but let the sun set on an argument without forgiving each other".
"The
third aspect is mission : proclaiming even in the outskirts. I want to
emphasize this , because it is an something I experienced when I was in Buenos
Aires : middle-class households where there were children who could not make
the sign of the cross , here these are the outskirts
where there is no God . "
"
Do not be afraid to go out and meet these people, to these situations. Do not be
blocked by prejudices , habits, mental or pastoral rigidity, the 'it has always
been this way! ' . But you can go to the outskirts only if you carry
the Word of God in your heart and walk with the Church, like St. Francis.
Otherwise we carry ourselves, and this is not good, it does not help anyone ! It
is not we who save the world : it is the Lord. "
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04/10/2013
