Pope: the Church is "faithful" when places its treasure in Jesus and not "securities” of this world
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Church is faithful if her "only treasure" is Jesus, and if she does not “make do” with other treasures that are of this world and not of God”. In fact we should ask ourselves whether our souls seek refuge in the Lord or in other securities that are not pleasing to the Lord?” said Pope Francis during mass this morning in Casa Santa Marta, inspired by the Gospel of the widow who offers her only two coins to the temple while the rich boast of their great deals.
Jesus says that "this so poor widow has put in more than all of the others" because the others gave up their surplus, while she, from her poverty, has given "all she had to live." In the Bible - said the Pope - "the widow is the lone woman, who has no husband to keep her; the woman who has to make do as it may, that lives of public charity. The widow of this Gospel "was" a widow who only had her hope in the Lord. "
"In the image of the Gospel widows I see the 'widowhood' of the Church that awaits the return of Jesus." ""The Church is the Bride of Christ, but her Lord is gone and her only treasure is her Lord. And the Church, when faithful, leaves everything to wait for the return of her Lord. But when the Church is not true or faithful or has little faith in the Lord’s love that she attempts to make do with other things, with other securities, that are are of this world more than of God".
"The widows of the Gospel describe a beautiful message of Jesus on the Church." "There's that one single widow who leaves Nain, crying over her son’s coffin, alone. Yes people pretty much accompanied her, but her heart was alone! The widowed Church who cries when her children die to the living Christ. Or the other widow Church who in order to defend her children, goes by the unjust judge: she makes life impossible for him, knocking at his door every day, saying give me justice!'. Finally he gives her justice. Or the praying widowed Church, who intercedes for her children. But the heart of the Church is always with her Spouse, with Jesus. 'Up there. Even our soul - according to the Fathers of the desert – is very much like the Church. And when our soul, our life, is closer to Jesus, it automatically moves away from many worldly things, things that are not needed, that do not help and that distance us from Jesus. This is how our Church looks for her Spouse, waits for her Groom, expects that meeting, weeps for her children, fights for her children, gives everything she has because her only interest is her Spouse. "
Francis concluded: “The 'widowhood' of the Church refers to the fact that the Church that is waiting for Jesus "can either be a Church faithful to this expectation, confidently awaiting the return of her Spouse or a Church faithful to this 'widowhood', seeking safety in other situations ... a lukewarm Church, a mediocre Church, a worldly Church. " Do "our souls seek security only in the Lord or seek other securities that are not pleasing to the Lord?". "In these final days of the Year liturgical it would do us all good to question our soul: if this is the Church that Jesus wants, if our soul turns to her Spouse and says: 'Come, Lord Jesus! Come '. Do we leave aside all these things that unnecessary, that do not help us to remain faithful".
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