Pope: respect for the rights of those forced to flee their homeland
Vatican City (AsiaNews)-The Pope is close to all who are forced to flee their homeland and hopes that "their rights are respected and that they may soon be reunited with loved ones." The World Refugee Day, sponsored by the United Nations celebrated on June 20, was underscored by Benedict XVI to 10 thousand people in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus. The Day, the Pope said, "wants to attract international attention to the conditions of many people, especially families, forced to flee their lands, because they threatened by armed conflicts and serious forms of violence. To these brothers and sisters who are so troubled - he concluded - I assure the prayer and the constant concern of the Holy See, while I hope that their rights are respected and that they may soon be reunited with loved ones. "
Before the Marian prayer, commenting as usual, on today's liturgy, Benedict XVI spoke of two parables of the seed that grows on its own and that of the mustard seed. "Through images from the world of agriculture, the Lord presents the mystery of the Word and the Kingdom of God, and indicate the reasons for our hope and our commitment."
In the first parable the focus is on the dynamism of sowing the seed that is cast upon the ground, which, whether the farmer is asleep to awake, sprouts and grows by itself. The man sows with confidence that his work will not be unfruitful. What supports the farmer in his daily toil is precisely the belief in the power of the seed and in the goodness of the soil. This parable refers to the mystery of creation and redemption, the fruitful work of God in history. He is the Lord of the Realm, the humble man is his collaborator, who contemplates and enjoys the creative action of God and waits patiently for the fruits. The final harvest reminds us of the final intervention of God at the end of time, when he fully realized his Kingdom. The present time is the time of sowing, and the growth of the seed is ensured by the Lord. Every Christian, then, knows we must do all we can, but that the final result depends on God, this knowledge will sustain us in our daily labors, especially in difficult situations. In this respect, writes Saint Ignatius of Loyola writes: Act as if everything depended on you, knowing well that in reality everything depends on God. "
"The second image uses the parable of the seed. Here, however, it is a seed-specific, the mustard seed, considered the smallest of all seeds. Even so minute, however, it is full of life, from its breaking apart comes a shoot capable of bursting through the ground, out into the sunlight and growing up to become "the largest of all garden plants" (cf. Mk 4.32): the weakness is the strength of the seed, its breaking is its power. So is the kingdom of God a humanly small reality, consisting of the poor in heart, those who are not confident in their own strength, but in the love of God, who are not important to eyes of the world, yet right through them breaks the power of Christ and transforms what is apparently insignificant. "
The message of the two parables "is clear: the Kingdom of God, even if it requires our cooperation, is firstly a gift of the Lord, a grace that precedes the man and his works. Our small force, seemingly helpless before the problems of the world if placed in that of God is not afraid of obstacles, it is certain of the victory of the Lord. It is the miracle of God's love, making every seed germinate and grow a good spread on the ground. And the experience of the miracle of 'Love makes us optimistic, despite the difficulties, the suffering and evil that we encounter. The seed sprouts and grows, so grows the love of God. "
Benedict XVI also recalled that today in Ireland, the International Eucharistic Congress concludes. "In the mystery of the Eucharist Jesus wanted to stay with us, for us to enter into communion with Him and among ourselves. I entrust to Mary the fruit ripened in these days of reflection and prayer."
.png)
