“It is sad to find watered down Christians, who are just like watered down wine” At today’s Angelus Pope Francis appealed against worldliness and called for a constant renewal with the help of the Gospel, the Eucharist and prayer DOMENICO AGASSO JR ROME At today’s Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square Francis warned against becoming “watered down” and “worldly” Christians We Christians live in the world fully integrated into the social and cultural reality of our time, and rightly so: but this carries with it the risk that we might become ‘worldly’, that ‘the salt might lose its flavour’ as Jesus would say, in other words we risk becoming watered down Christians.” Francis urged faithful to experience constant “spiritual renewal” by reading the Gospel, going to mass and praying: “Thanks to these gifts of the Lord we can conform ourselves not to the world, but to Christ, and follow Him on His path,” he said. It s sad - he continued, leaving aside his written speech- to find watered down Christians, who are just like watered down wine and you cant tell if they are Christians or watered down. Like watered down wine you cant tell if its wine or water. If the salt has become tasteless, it is useless .... Their salt has lost its flavour and they have become worldly ... Matthew’s Gospel describes “a critical moment in which the contrast between Jesus way of thinking and that of the disciples emerges.” This is a crucial moment, Francis explained, because after seeing that Peter and the other eleven disciples believed in Him as Messiah and Son of God, Jesus begins to explain that he has to go to Jerusalem, undergo great suffering, die and rise on the third day. “Even Peter feels compelled to rebuke the Master, because he cannot reconcile himself to the idea that the Messiah would come to such an ignoble end. Then Jesus, in turn, severely rebukes Peter, puts him back in line because he does not think according to God, but according to men and without realizing it is part of Satan, the tempter. Commenting on today’s readings, Pope Francis emphasised that “you must be continually renewed by drawing from the life source of the Gospel.” And how can you do this in practice? First of all, just by reading and meditating on the Gospel every day, so that the word of Jesus is always present in our lives. Remember to always carry with you a little Gospel and read a page every day ... Let us carry the Word of God, Francis added off the cuff. “In order to be constantly renewed, in addition to meditating on the word of God, it is important to participate in the Sunday Mass, where we meet the Lord in the community, listen to His Word and receive the Eucharist unites us to Him and each other. Then another very important thing for the spiritual renewal are days of recollection and retreats.” “Gospel, the Eucharist, prayer, thanks to these gifts of the Lord we can conform ourselves not to the world, but to Christ, and follow Him on His path, the path of losing our life to find it,” Francis emphasised. After the Angelus, Francis reminded his audience that tomorrow is the Day for the Safeguarding of Creation, promoted by the Italian Bishops Conference. The theme this year - said the pope - is very important, Educating to care for creation, for the health of our country and our cities. I hope that it will strengthen the commitment of all institutions, associations and citizens to safeguard the life and health of people by respecting the environment and nature. Francis sent a special greeting to Catholic members of parliament who are holding their fifth international meeting: “I encourage them to carry out their delicate role as representatives of the people, respecting evangelical values.” The annual meeting of the International Catholic Legislators Network began on Thursday and concluded today, in Frascati (Rome). The Pope then greeted “participants of the Scholas meeting: continue your work with children and young people in the fields of education, sport and culture. And I wish you good luck for tomorrow’s game at the Olympic Stadium.” Francis was referring to the Interreligious Match for Peace which will be played in his honour tomorrow evening at 8:45 pm. Proceeds will go to the Scolas movement. At 4 pm tomorrow the Pope will receive the team and the organisers of the event led by Javier Zanetti in the Nervi audience hall in the Vatican.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 02:39:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015