Pope asks, Am I like Pilate? When the situation gets tough, do I wash my hands?
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - As Christians, "are we able to welcome Jesus as he enters Jerusalem? Are we able to praise him, as children do? Or do we stand away from Him and behave in another way?" asked Pope Francis in his unscripted homily this morning, during Palm Sunday Mass.
Francis Pope celebrated Mass holding in his hand the pastoral staff made by the inmates in a prison in San Remo (Italy). Following the service, during the Angelus, he saw the handover of the World Youth Day Cross and announced his visit to Daejeon, next August, for the sixth Asian Youth Day.
Speaking to the tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter's Square, Francis, dressed in red vestments, said, "This week, everyone will welcome Jesus, and children will praise and sing [him]. However, this week will unfold in the mystery of Jesus' death and his resurrection. As we feel the passion of the Lord, it will do us good to ask, Who am I? Who am I before my Lord? Who am I before Jesus as he festively enters Jerusalem? Am I able to express my joy, and praise him? Or do I stand away?"
"Who am I before the suffering Jesus?" the Pope asked those present. "We have heard so many names, so many names, the group of leaders, some priests, some Pharisees, teachers of the law who had decided to kill him, waiting for the opportunity to seize him. Am I like one of them?"
"We also hear another name, Judas; thirty pieces. Am I like Judas? We heard other names: the disciples who understood nothing, who fell asleep as the Lord suffered. Did my life fall asleep? Am I like the disciples, who did not understand what it meant to betray Jesus? Like that other disciple who wanted to solve everything with the sword?"
"Am I like them?" Francis went on to ask. "Am I like Judas who pretended to love [Christ] and kissed the teacher in order to deliver him, [and] betray him [to his enemies]? Am I a traitor? Am I like those leaders who sat in judgement and sought false witnesses? Am I like them? And when I do these things, if I do them, do I believe that with them I save the people? Am I like Pilate that when I see a tough situation I wash my hands? Do I not assume my responsibilities, letting people be condemned or condemning them myself? Am I like that crowd that did not know whether it was at a religious meeting, in court, or in a circus, and chose Barabbas, for whom it was all the same, and found it more amusing to humiliate Jesus. Am I like those soldiers who struck the Lord, spat upon him, insulted him, [and] got a kick out of humiliating the Lord? Am I like the man of Cyrene who came home from work tired but was good enough to help the Lord carry the cross? Am I like those who went by the cross mocking Jesus, saying 'If he is so brave, let him come down from the cross and we will believe him.' Mocked Jesus . . ."
Am I "like those brave women and Jesus' mother who were there, suffering in silence? Am I like Joseph, the hidden disciple who took Jesus' body to bury him with love? Am I like the two Marys who stood by the door of the sepulchre weeping, praying? Am I like those leaders who, the next day, went to Pilate and said, 'Look here! This guy said he would be resurrected. Let there be no more!' And they blocked life; they blocked the tomb, to defend the doctrine, so that life would not come out? Where is my heart? To which of these people do I resemble? Let this question accompany us throughout the week."
After the liturgy, the pope recited the traditional Sunday Angelus, but before the Marian prayer, he greeted the 250 delegates - bishops, priests, religious and lay people - who took part in the meeting organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity in order to prepare Krakow 2016, telling them that John Paul II will be the patron of World Youth Day.
"At the end of this celebration," the pope said, "I especially greet the 250 delegates - bishops, priests, religious and lay people - who took part in the World Youth Days meeting organised by the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Thus begins the journey of preparation for the next world meeting set for July 2016 in Kraków. Its theme will be 'Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy' (Matthew, 5:7)."
"Shortly, young Brazilians will hand over the World Youth Cross to young Poles. The Blessed John Paul II handed over the cross to the youth 30 years ago. He asked them to take it around the world as a sign of Christ's love for humanity."
Hence, "on 27 April, we shall all rejoice at celebrating the canonisation of this pope, as well as that of John XXIII. Pope John Paul II, who was the initiator of the World Youth Days, will become its great patron. In the communion of saints, he will continue to be a father and a friend for the young people of the world. Let us ask the Lord that the Cross, together with the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani, be a sign of hope for everyone, revealing to the world Christ's invincible love."
After the pope spoke, a group of young Poles received the WYD Cross from a group of young Brazilians, 'We are waiting for you in Kraków' written on the back of their T-shirts.
After the Cross was handed over, the pope said, "I greet all Romans and pilgrims! I greet in particular the delegations from Rio de Janeiro and Kraków, led by their archbishops, Cardinals Orani João Tempesta and Stanisław Dziwisz."
"In this context, it is my joy to announce that, God willing, next 15 August, in Daejeon, Republic of Korea, I shall meet the young people of Asia in their largest continental gathering. And now let us turn to the Virgin Mother, that she may always help us follow Jesus with faith and love."
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