Pope at the Angelus: 'The Lord plants seeds in us and waits patiently'

From the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace a new appeal: "Let us not stop praying for peace". He calls to mind Ukraine, the Holy Land, Sudan and Myanmar. A thought on the violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo: "They are martyrs! Their sacrifice is a seed that sprouts".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The Lord places in us the seeds of his Word and of his grace, good and abundant seeds, and then, without ever ceasing to accompany us, he waits patiently."

After the commentary on the Gospel of the day (Mk 4,26-34) - a passage by the evangelist Mark in which it is stated that the Kingdom of God "is like a mustard seed" - and the recitation of this morning's Angelus, Pope Francis has returned to calling for peace "everywhere people suffer from war".

The "tortured Ukraine", the Holy Land, Sudan and Myanmar were remembered: the plea not to stop praying was shared with the numerous faithful present in St. Peter's.

From the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Pontiff also recalled the beatification which took place yesterday in Krakow of Michele Rapacz (1904-1946), whom he defined as "priest and martyr, pastor according to the heart of Christ, faithful and generous witness to the Gospel which he experienced both Nazi and Soviet perceptions and responded with the gift of his life."

The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki. At these words, at the invitation of Bergoglio himself, a long round of applause rose from the square.

The Holy Father also dedicated a thought to the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. “Painful news of clashes and massacres continues to arrive,” he said.

In fact, violence continues in the province of North Kivu perpetrated by both rebel groups and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

“I address my appeal to the national authorities and international communities to do everything possible to stop the violence and safeguard the lives of civilians,” added the Bishop of Rome. Then, he remembered the Christian communities, victims of this often forgotten conflict.

“Among the victims, many are Christians killed in odium fidei: they are martyrs! Their sacrifice is a seed that germinates and bears fruit, and teaches us to bear witness to the Gospel with courage and coherence."

Before reciting the Marian prayer, Pope Francis had said in the Word of the Day that the comparison between the Kingdom of God and a seed is used by Jesus several times.

Declaring that in today's passage the invitation is to reflect on a particular attitude: "confident waiting". Conduct typical of the farmer who, no matter how properly he prepares the sowing, is then called to wait. “Plants don't emerge immediately: it takes time, it takes patience!”.

But in reality, even if nothing will always happen on the surface, "underground the miracle is already taking place, there is enormous development but it is invisible", he said. “The Lord continues to take care of us, with the trust of a Father, but gives us time… the Lord is patient”.

God's own patience is functional so that "everything reaches full maturation; he wants all of us to be able to grow like ears full of grains,” said the Pontiff.

From his example we too can learn to "confidently sow the Gospel where we are, and then to wait for the seed sown to grow and bear fruit in us and in others, without becoming discouraged". Pope Francis then asked the faithful listening some questions, ideas for introducing the Word into everyone's life.

Among these: "Do I confidently sow the Word of God in the environments in which I live?", and "Am I patient in waiting, or do I get discouraged because I don't see the results immediately?". An invitation to reflect, keeping in mind that, even in the existence of each perisna, "beyond appearances, the miracle is already underway, and in due time it will bear abundant fruit!".