Pope's Homily at Conclusion of World Meeting of Families

Today the word of God surprises us with powerful and thought-provoking images. Images which challenge us, but also stir our enthusiasm. 

In the first reading, Joshua tells Moses that two members of the people are prophesying, speaking God’s word, without a mandate. In the Gospel, John tells Jesus that the disciples had stopped someone from casting out evil spirits in the name of Jesus. Here is the surprise: Moses and Jesus both rebuke those closest to them for being so narrow! Would that all could be prophets of God’s word! Would that everyone could work miracles in the Lord’s name! 

Jesus encountered hostility from people who did not accept what he said and did. For them, his openness to the honest and sincere faith of many men and women who were not part of God’s chosen people seemed intolerable. The disciples, for their part, acted in good faith. But the temptation to be scandalized by the freedom of God, who sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike (Mt 5:45), bypassing bureaucracy, officialdom and inner circles, threatens the authenticity of faith. Hence it must be vigorously rejected. 

Once we realize this, we can understand why Jesus’ words about causing “scandal” are so harsh. For Jesus, the truly “intolerable” scandal consists in everything that breaks down and destroys our trust in the working of the Spirit! 

Our Father will not be outdone in generosity and he continues to scatter seeds. He scatters the seeds of his presence in our world, for “love consists in this, not that we have loved God but that he loved us” first (1 Jn 4:10). That love gives us a profound certainty: we are sought by God; he waits for us. It is this confidence which makes disciples encourage, support and nurture the good things happening all around them. God wants all his children to take part in the feast of the Gospel. Jesus says, “Do not hold back anything that is good, instead help it to grow!” To raise doubts about the working of the Spirit, to give the impression that it cannot take place in those who are not “part of our group”, who are not “like us”, is a dangerous temptation. Not only does it block conversion to the faith; it is a perversion of faith!

Faith opens a “window” to the presence and working of the Spirit. It shows us that, like happiness, holiness is always tied to little gestures. “Whoever gives you a cup of water in my name will not go unrewarded”, says Jesus (cf. Mk 9:41). These little gestures are those we learn at home, in the family; they get lost amid all the other things we do, yet they do make each day different. They are the quiet things done by mothers and grandmothers, by fathers and grandfathers, by children, [by siblings]. They are little signs of tenderness, affection and compassion. Like the warm supper we look forward to at night, the early lunch awaiting someone who gets up early to go to work. Homely gestures. Like a blessing before we go to bed, or a hug after we return from a hard day’s work. Love is shown by little things, by attention to small daily signs which make us feel at home. Faith grows when it is lived and shaped by love. That is why our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life, and life to [grow in] faith. 

Jesus tells us not to hold back these little miracles. Instead, he wants us to encourage them, to spread them. He asks us to go through life, our everyday life, encouraging all these little signs of love as signs of his own living and active presence in our world. 

So we might ask ourselves, [today, here, at the end of this festival]: How are we trying to live this way in our homes, in our societies? What kind of world do we want to leave to our children (cf. Laudato Si’, 160)? We cannot answer these questions alone, by ourselves. It is the Spirit who challenges us to respond as part of the great human family. Our common house can no longer tolerate sterile divisions. The urgent challenge of protecting our home includes the effort to bring the entire human family together in the pursuit of a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change (cf. ibid., 13). May our children find in us models and incentives to communion! [Not of division.] May our children find in us men and women capable of joining others in bringing to full flower all the good seeds which the Father has sown! 

Pointedly, yet affectionately, Jesus tells us: “If you, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Lk 11:13). How much wisdom there is in these few words! It is true that, as far as goodness and purity of heart are concerned, we human beings don’t have much to show! But Jesus knows that, where children are concerned, we are capable of boundless generosity. So he reassures us: if only we have faith, the Father will give us his Spirit. 

We Christians, the Lord’s disciples, ask the families of the world to help us! How many of us are here at this celebration! This is itself something prophetic, a kind of miracle in today’s world, [which is tired of inventing new divisions, new sufferings, new disasters]. Would that we could all be prophets! Would that all of us could be open to miracles of love for the sake of [our own family and] all the families of the world, and thus overcome the scandal of a narrow, petty love, closed in on itself, impatient of others! 

[I leave you a question for each one to answer to himself, since I said the word impatient: In my house, do we yell? Or do we speak with love and tenderness? This is a good way to measure our love.]

And how beautiful it would be if everywhere, even beyond our borders, we could appreciate and encourage this prophecy and this miracle! We renew our faith in the word of the Lord which invites faithful families to this openness. It invites all those who want to share the prophecy of the covenant of man and woman, which generates life and reveals God. [May he help us to participate in the prophecy of peace, of tenderness and family affection. May he help us to participate in this prophetic gesture of caring for our children and our grandparents with tenderness, patience and love.]

Anyone who wants to bring into this world a family which teaches children to be excited by every gesture aimed at overcoming evil – a family which shows that the Spirit is alive and at work – will encounter our gratitude and our appreciation. Whatever the family, people, region, or religion to which they belong! 

May God grant to all of us [to be prophets of the joy of the Gospel, of the Gospel of the family, of the love of families. To be prophets], as the Lord’s disciples, [and grant us] the grace to be worthy of this purity of heart which is not scandalized by the Gospel! [Amen]

by Pope Francis (09/27/15, Philadelphia, USA)

from zenit.org

God is enough

Take nothing for the journey. (Luke 9:3)

Sunscreen. Diaper bag. Contingency plans. Hope. If you were to do a Google search on the phrase “Don’t leave home without it,” hundreds of millions of results will suggest what that “it” should be. And yet Jesus sent out his apostles with no money, food, or change of clothes. While that might strike us as reckless, he wanted them to learn something vital to the Christian life: God is enough. He is always enough. Nothing is inherently wrong with money, food, clothes, or other helps to life, but in the end, God is enough.

God is enough to bridge the gap between what he calls you to do and what you think you can do. His provision, as well as his love for you, rules out the objections that can whisper darkly in your thoughts: “You’re not good enough or smart enough or young enough or old enough. You don’t have enough time or freedom or compassion or skill to answer God’s call.” The apostles show that if you detect God’s leading and respond in faith, he will make up for any lack you may see in yourself.

Relying on God is a joyous collaboration, not an excuse for sitting by and waiting for him to do all the work. As you take steps in faith and reach the limit of your resources, God will provide new ideas and energy. He will rekindle passion and stir creativity. He will open doors for his children—often by the hands of other children of his. More than any material blessing, though, he will provide faith, hope, and love. He will walk beside you along the way.

God loves you. We can’t say it enough. He cares about you. He wants you to do well. He has created you for a unique purpose on this earth. So it stands to reason that he has a vested interest in helping you accomplish the very things he has created you for. He will help you grow in grace and understanding as you work with him. He will develop your gifts and talents, even as he empowers you with his own supernatural grace to serve him.

So rest assured, God is enough!

“Lord, free me from self-doubt and worry. Teach me that you are enough as I take up your call in my life.”

Are we listening?

So that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand. (Luke 8:10)

These words of Jesus are puzzling at first glance. Did he really mean that his reason for telling parables was so that people would not understand them? Certainly not! That would be just plain cruel. No, Jesus wanted to reach everyone. He told parables precisely because with their rich stories and familiar images, they are easier to understand. Most of Jesus’ listeners weren’t schooled in Scripture. So he gave them simple stories they could relate to, such as the parable of the prodigal son or this parable of the sower and the seeds, so that his teaching could find a home in their hearts.

Today’s parable is especially important because it deals with the word of God, which is “able to save your souls” (James 1:21). As he often did, Jesus was overdramatizing by using a little reverse psychology. If you tell someone they may have difficulty hearing you, they will most likely perk up their ears when you speak. And since the very subject of the parable is the importance of hearing, the more likely it is that we will really listen and become the kind of “soil” that produces good fruit. 

So how do we know if our ears are open? We know if the word we hear produces an effect, if our lives are changing. The whole point of the parable is to bring us to obey God’s word. The root of the word obey means both “to listen” and “to be persuaded.”

Today in your prayer time, try taking a “hearing test.” Read the parable out loud, slowly. Invite the Holy Spirit to listen with you. Are there particular points where he is telling you, “Stop; pay attention”? Perhaps something you read pricks your conscience. Perhaps something gives you a little sense of excitement or hope or direction. Whatever happens, let that word take root. Let it be translated from a thought into an action. Then make a note of what you have heard, and try to follow through on it. Try your best to approach it “with a generous and good heart,” and you’ll find it bearing wonderful fruit in your life (Luke 8:15).

“Lord, help me to be an obedient servant who hears you clearly, not just with my ears, but with my whole heart.”

from wau.org

Challenges and gifts

Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

How would you fill in this blank?

Let no one have contempt for your _____________________.

If you were required to jump out of your chair today and take up a ministry like Paul’s, what would be your primary concern? Would you be afraid that people would mock your lack of experience? Would you protest that you’re too old? Too young? Not bold enough or articulate enough?

We all have things that make us feel as if we could never measure up, but that shouldn’t discourage us from trying to spread the good news of Christ in our corner of the world. God knows that we have challenges, but he still calls us to move past them. What’s more, he wants to help us. That’s why he asks us to consider another fill-in-the-blank statement:

Do not neglect the gifts of __________________that God has given you.

It’s easy to focus on our perceived shortcomings or hurdles, but this isn’t how God sees us. Yes, he knows where we struggle. He knows that people may oppose us or dismiss us out of hand. But he also knows everything that he has poured into our lives. He knows, better than anyone else, that grace is more than capable of lifting us up and helping us deal with whatever limitations we may think we have.

Today, think about these two blanks. What are your challenges? What are your gifts? Be careful not to focus only on the first question. Make it a point to give just as much thought to the second. You may be surprised by what you find! 

Remember, you don’t ever have to worry about being God’s perfect servant. God doesn’t want perfection. He just wants intention. He simply wants a desire to walk with him every day. If you can offer him just that, he will be sure to fill in all of the blanks you find in your life.

“Lord, erase my fear of failure or rejection, and remind me of my gifts and your guiding hand. By your grace, help me do the work you have set aside for me.”

 from wau.org

CEO of your thoughts

If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above… . Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. (Colossians 3:1, 2)

The chief executive officer of a company is the top executive responsible for a company’s overall operations and performance. His or her job is to keep the organization focused on the goal of that company. A good CEO understands how risky it is for the company to get sidetracked from its core mission.

Did you know that we can be CEOs as well? We can follow our own strategy of staying focused on our core mission—to love the Lord and serve his people. By capturing, examining, and making obedient our thoughts, we can keep ourselves from getting derailed by distractions and lesser concerns that lead us away from the Lord and the life he has given us. 

The first step is to capture our thoughts. Try thinking of nothing for just a few minutes, and you’ll see that you are always thinking! Thoughts constantly roll in and out of our minds—good, bad, and indifferent. But you can get in the habit of noticing the errant thoughts that steer you off course: doubts about God, habits of fearful thinking, appetites, selfish ambition, accusations against other people, and condemnation against ourselves. 

When you catch one of these stray thoughts, your next job is to examine it. Is it true? Does it mesh with what you know about God or his calling for you? Does it make you anxious or bring you peace?

Finally, you can bring this thought into obedience to Christ. If it doesn’t belong in your mind, send it away. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you get free of its influence. Try to focus your mind on what you know to be true, and watch this unhelpful thought wither away and die. 

According to the Scriptures, the kingdom of God is a place where there will be no sorrow or suffering. This is your goal. This is the “above” that St. Paul urges us to focus our attention on. If you practice being the CEO of your thoughts today, you’ll get one step closer to your goal!

“Lord, my eyes are on you. Help me not to get steered off course today. Lift me up to where you are!”

from wau.org

Mission Field

Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men. (Luke 5:10)

There’s a story about the British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth (1859–1947). He was riding a train to Wales one day. As the train neared his station, he got up to wash his hands in the restroom. While there, he prayed for just a few moments. When he returned to his seat, someone noticed that his face seemed to be shining with an extraordinary glow. “Sir,” he said, “you’ve convinced me of my need to repent!” Soon after, others in the carriage were exclaiming, “Who are you? You’ve convinced us all to repent!” 

The reaction of these travelers to Wigglesworth sounds a little like Peter’s words to Jesus: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). It wasn’t that Peter wanted Jesus to go away. It was that he was overwhelmed by Jesus’ power and goodness. 

It’s natural for us to react like this when we encounter the Lord. Perhaps the encounter has shown us our sin, and we are moved to repentance. Perhaps we are not accustomed to experiencing such an abundance of unconditional love. Or maybe we sense that God has a new calling for us, and we are afraid to take it up. As the Letter to the Hebrews says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

But look at Peter. He allowed himself to fall into Jesus’ hands, and it changed his life forever. No longer just a fisherman, he became a fisher of men and women as he grew into his role of leading the Church and encouraging his fellow apostles. It was a rocky road at first, but over time, Peter became a heroic, humble servant reverenced by millions of believers down through the ages.

God has an adventure set aside for you as well. It may not entail world travel or a place in the limelight, but it does involve a life lived for more than just yourself. He wants you to take up the call to catch people for his kingdom. And as you do—whether through evangelization or a life of intercession—you’ll find your horizons broadening, your heart growing warmer, and your life more purposeful. Who knows? Maybe your face will even shine as brightly as Smith Wigglesworth’s!

from wau.org

The Lord is my light, refuge and strength

The Lord is my light and my salvation. (Psalm 27:1)

From times tables to song lyrics to addresses and phone numbers, we learn so many things by rote. In fact, if you say or think something often enough, it will become ingrained in your memory—even statements about who you are and what life is about. So consider what might happen if you made the decision to repeat godly truths over and over again. Try it today, starting with “The Lord is my light” and “The Lord is my refuge.”

The Lord is my light. He shows me what to do. He gives me direction and lights the path when the way seems dark. His light can shine in my heart, offering wisdom when I’m not sure what to do. He gives me understanding and a heavenly perspective. When I feel too confused or afraid to move ahead, he can show me how to proceed.

The Lord is my refuge. I can run to him for safekeeping and strength. He is my strength when I feel too weak to keep on caring or when I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning. He will help me when the call of raising godly children or persevering in prayer seems too demanding. He keeps me safe amid hostility and opposition.

The Lord is my strength. I can exercise, finish rehab, or endure chemotherapy. When I need to repent, forgive, or simply bide my time, he is there with his own courage and power to help me.

When the shadow of fear or defeat threatens to spread itself over you, shout it out, “The Lord is my light!” When fear grips you or weakness overtakes you, declare it, “The Lord is my strength!” Whenever you hear yourself say or think, “I can’t,” “I don’t know how,” or “I give up,” just repeat this glorious verse: “The Lord is my light and my salvation… . The Lord is my life’s refuge (Psalm 27:1, 2).”

“Lord, you are my light and the strength of my life. With your help today, I will live in your light and strength.”

from wau.org