God does not convoke "a great assembly" or sign "a document" in order to reconcile. God is all powerful and great, but "teaches us to carry on the great work of peace and reconciliation in the little things, on our journey, not to lose hope and the ability to dream big dreams, with great horizons".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "God’s style of reconciling” is seen "in little things" and His walking with His people, said Pope Francis during his homily at Mass this morning in Casa Santa Marta. Taking a cue from today's commemoration of the Birth of the Virgin Mary to emphasize that all of us are called to be humble and neighbors to others as the Beatitudes and Chapter 25 of the Gospel of Matthew teaches us.

Christ’s task, he said, was in fact to "reconcile and pacify." But God does not convoke "a great assembly" or sign "a document" in order to reconcile. God "pacifies in a special way. He reconciles and pacifies in the little things and on the journey". Francis was referring to the first reading, from the Book of the Prophet Micah, which speaks of the small Bethlehem that will be great because peace  is peace." Still, he noted, the Lord chooses "the little things, humble things to do great works. He also advises us to be like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. " God "reconciles and pacifies in the little things".

"But (He also does this) by accompanying us. Did our Lord want to bring peace and reconciliation today  with a magic wand?: Whoosh! – That’s done! No!  He set out to walk with his people and we heard this passage from Saint Matthew’s gospel: but it’s a bit boring, isn’t it?  It’s a list: but this is God accompanying us!  God walks with humanity, the good people and the evil people because in this list there are saints and there are criminal sinners as well. There’s so much sin here.  But God is not frightened by this: He accompanies us. He walks with his people.”

The Pope stressed how by walking with us God helps to increase the hope of his people and their hope in the Messiah. He also described how God is dreaming of beautiful things for his people, for each one of us. “The people were dreaming of freedom. The people of Israel had this dream because they had been promised that they would obtain freedom, peace and reconciliation. Joseph dreams. Joseph’s dream is a bit like a summary of the dreams about all the history of God’s walk with his people. But it’s not only Joseph who dreams. God has dreams. God our Father has dreams and he is dreaming about beautiful things for his people, for each of us because He is our Father and like a Father He is thinking and dreaming about the best for his children.”

Pope Francis said although God is great and all powerful he teaches us to carry out great works and bring peace and reconciliation through the little things. He also teaches us to dream great dreams and to aim high. The Pope said today when we commemorate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “let us implore the grace of unity, reconciliation and peace.”

“But always walking and being close to others, as we were taught in the Beatitudes, in Chapter 25 of St Matthew’s gospel and with great dreams. And let us continue, now, commemorating our Lord in the ‘little things’: a little piece of bread, a little bit of wine … in the little things. But everything is contained in these little things. There’s God’s dream, there’s his love, his peace, his reconciliation, there’s Jesus:  He is all of this.”

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