Suffering existed so that the love of God can be accomplished. Just as Christ showed concern towards us by dying on the cross, we should also show concern towards our fellow men/women as demonstrated by the Good Samaritan. (167) Luke 10:30-37. The words of Jesus to the lawyer: “You go, then and do the same”, should always resonate in us and also inspire us to show practical concern towards others just as Christ continues to show concern towards us every day. (168) Matthew 9:36-38 (169) Luke 10:37. The Good Samaritan was conscious, proactive and sensitive to the suffering of the victim. He was moved by the man’s condition just like Christ was moved upon seeing the crowd because they were worried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (170) Matthew 9:36. Also at the death of Lazarus, Jesus was moved by the sorrows of the mourners especially Mary and Martha and he wept and acted immediately in order to extinguish their suffering. John said: “Jesus saw her weeping, and he saw how the people with her were weeping also; his heart was touched, and he was deeply moved. …., Jesus wept.” (171) John 11:33&35. Again, when the people of Israel were being maltreated in Egypt, God did not keep silent but rather declared: “I have seen how cruelly my people are being treated in Egypt; I have heard them cry out to be rescued from their slave drivers. I know all about their suffering, and so I have come down to rescue them from the Egyptians,” (172) Exodus 3:7-8. We must not only recognize those who cry, rather we must open the eyes of our mind and see those who have either cried or wiped their tears because there was one to help them or those whose sufferings are too deep that they have no strengthen to cry. We must give up ourselves for others in order to have our lives back. We must not make our lives a possession of our own, but rather a gift to us and to others. (173) Pope Francis’ Homily on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran on 30/5/2013. This is seen in the example of Saint Paul who fought the good fight for others, ran the good race and kept the faith. (174) 2 Timothy 4:7. In the words of Pope Francis, “Saint Paul has but one weapon: the message of Christ and the gift of his entire life for Christ and for others. (175) Pope Francis’ Homily at the Celebration of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul and imposition of the Sacred Pallium on the Metropolitan Archbishops on 29/6/2013. This task is daunting by the grace of God we shall succeed.
Posted on: Fri, 26 Jul 2013 09:59:47 +0000
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