Pope Francis comments on the Biblical figure of King David, who mourns the death of his rebellious son Absalom, and Jairus, the synagogue leader, who begs Jesus to heal his daughter. "It makes us think of the first thing we say to God, in the Creed: ' I believe in God the Father ... ' . It makes us think about the fatherhood of God."

Vatican City ( AsiaNews) - Even God weeps, as a father who loves his children and never disowns them even if they are rebels, but always waits for them, who is not afraid to ridicule himself, in order to save them. This is the reflection offered today by Pope Francis during Mass celebrated at Casa Santa Marta.  He was commenting on the Biblical figure of King David, who mourns the death of his rebellious son Absalom, and Jairus, the synagogue leader, who prays to Jesus to heal his daughter.

As reported by Vatican Radio, the Pope pointed out that David is not interested in his army's victory; "he was waiting for his son! He was only interested inn his son! He was king, he was head of the country, but he was a father! And so when he received news of his son's death, he was shaken by a tremor : ... he went upstairs and wept". "He said as he walked away: ' My son, Absalom. My Son! , My son Absalom! Had I died instead of you! Absalom, my son! My son! ' . This is the heart of a father, who never disowns his son. 'He was a rebel, an enemy. But he is my son'.  He does not deny his paternity: he wept...Twice David wept for a child: this and the other when his son was dying of adultery. Then too, he fasted, made penance to save his son's life. He was a father!".

The other father is the head of the Synagogue, "an important person, but in front of his daughter's illness, he is not ashamed to throw himself at Jesus' feet: ' My little daughter is dying, come and lay your hands on her, so she may be saved and live!'.  He knows no shame", he does not think about what others may say, because he is the father . David and Jairus are two fathers. "For them what is most important is their son, daughter! There is nothing else. It's the only important thing! It makes us think about the first thing we say to God, in the Creed : ' I believe in God the Father ... . ' it makes us think about the fatherhood of God, but God is like this. God is like this with us! 'But, Father , God does not cry!'. On the contrary! Remember Jesus, how greatly he wept watching Jerusalem. 'Jerusalem , Jerusalem how often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings'. God weeps! Jesus wept for us! And that cry of Jesus is precisely the figure of the weeping of the Father, who wants us all with him".

"In difficult times the Father responds. Remember Isaac, when he goes with Abraham to carry out the sacrifice: Isaac was not silly, he noticed that there was wood, the fire , but no sheep for the sacrifice. He was anguished in his heart! And what does he say? ' Father .' And immediately, ' Here I am, son'.  The Father responded".  Similarly, Jesus in the Garden of Olives, says, "with anguish in his heart: 'Father, all things are possible to you; remove this cup from me!'. And the angels came to give him strength. This is our God: a Father! He is a Father".  A Father who awaits the prodigal son who went away "with all the money, with all his inheritance. But his father was waiting for him" every day and "saw him from afar". "That is our God!" and "our paternity" - that of being fathers of the family, the spiritual fatherhood of bishops and priests - "we should be like this. The Father is anointed by the child : he can not understand himself without his son! And for this needs his son: he waits for him, loves him, seeks him, forgives him, wants him close, as close as a hen wants her chicks":

"Let's go home today with these two icons: a weeping David and the other , the head of the synagogue, who throws himself in front of Jesus, without fear of becoming a disgrace and making others laugh. Their children were at stake: son and daughter. And with these two icons let us say: 'I believe in God, the Father ... ' . and ask the Holy Spirit - because only He is the Holy Spirit - to teach us to say ' Abba, Father .' It is a grace ! Being able to say to God, 'Father! with our heart, this  is a grace of the Holy Spirit.  Let us ask Him for this".

 

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