Pope: The hypocrisy of legalism and ritualism. Appeal for Idlib, Syria
At the Angelus, Pope Francis warns against the danger of hypocrisy. "The hypocrite is a liar, he is not authentic" because he upsets "God’s will by neglecting his commandments to observe human traditions". Listening to the Word of God to be freed from hypocrisy. A possible "humanitarian catastrophe" at Idlib, a rebel stronghold in Syria, about to be attacked by Russian air raids and Assad's army.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Commenting on today's Gospel before the midday Angelus prayer in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis spoke many times on the subject of "hypocrisy" and said that Jesus " always calls us to recognize what is the true center of the experience of faith, that is, love of God and love of neighbor, purifying it from the hypocrisy of legalism and ritualism ".
After the Marian prayer, the Pope appealed to the international community to avoid a new "humanitarian catastrophe" in Idlib, Syria, where "winds of war" are blowing with a probable and imminent Russian air force and government army attack on the city in the hands of former Qaedist and Islamic State rebels.
Speaking to the approximately 20 thousand pilgrims gathered in the square, the Pope stressed that this Sunday Gospel (22nd a year, B, Mark 7: 1-8.14-15.21-23), "addresses an important issue for believers: the authenticity of the our obedience to the Word of God, against any worldly contamination or legalistic formalism ", and that the scribes and Pharisees who question Jesus, wanted" to target the trustworthiness and authority of Jesus as Master. This teacher allows his disciples to ignore the traditions of the ancients ".
Jesus accuses them of hypocrisy. "Hypocrite - said Francis - is one of the strongest words that Jesus uses in the Gospel", especially towards "the masters in religion", "the hypocrite is a liar, is unauthentic," because he or she distorts "God’s will and neglects His commandments to observe human traditions ".
Referring to the second reading of the day (James, 1, 17-18.21-22.27), he explained what the "true religion" visit the fatherless and widows in suffering and not be contaminated by this world "(v. 27) ".
"'To visit orphans and widows' - he continued - means practicing charity towards others, starting from the neediest, the most fragile, the most marginalised. They are the people of whom God takes special care, and asks us to do the same 'Do not be contaminated by this world' does not mean isolating oneself and closing oneself to reality. Here too, it should not be an external but internal attitude of substance: it means to be vigilant because our way of thinking and acting is not polluted by the worldly mentality, that is, by vanity, greed, pride. In reality, a man or a woman who lives in vanity, avarice and pride, and makes himself seen as religious and even condemns others, is a hypocrite ".
"Let's examine our own conscience to see how we welcome the Word of God. On Sunday we hear it in the Mass. If we listen to it in a distracted or superficial way, it will not help us much. Instead, we must welcome the Word with open mind and heart, as a good ground, so that it is assimilated and bears fruit in concrete life. Jesus says that the Word of God is like wheat, like the seed that must grow. Thus the Word itself purifies our heart and our actions and our relationship with God and with others is freed from hypocrisy ".
After the Angelus prayer, the Pope recalled that yesterday, in Košice (Slovakia), Anna Kolesárová was beatified. The virgin and martyr "was killed for resisting those who would violate her dignity and chastity." "She is like our Italian Maria Goretti - he added. This courageous girl helps young Christians to remain steadfast in fidelity to the Gospel, even when it requires going against the trends of the time and paying in first person ". And he asked the pilgrims for applause for the new blessed.
"With pain", he added: "The winds of war are still blowing and unsettling news about the risks of a possible humanitarian catastrophe in the beloved Syria, in the Province of Idlib. I renew my heartfelt appeal to the international community and to all actors involved to make use of the instruments of diplomacy, dialogue and negotiation, respect for international humanitarian law and to safeguard the lives of civilians. "
The situation of Idlib is even more complicated by the fact that the Western powers seem determined to defend the rebels in every way, as reported to AsiaNews by the vicar of Aleppo, of the Latins, Msgr. Georges Abou Khazen
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