POPE FRANCIS ON THE GENEROSITY AND PROMPTNESS TO FOLLOW GOD’S CALL.

POPE FRANCIS ON THE GENEROSITY AND PROMPTNESS TO FOLLOW GOD’S CALL.

At midday today, 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Holy Father Francis appeared at the window of his study in the Vatican Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter’s Square. The following is the Pope’s introduction to the Marian prayer:

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

In today’s Gospel (see Lk 9: 51-62), Saint Luke begins the account of Jesus’ last journey towards Jerusalem, which concludes at chapter 19. It is a long march, not only geographic and spatial, but also spiritual and theological, towards the fulfilment of the mission of the Messiah. Jesus’ decision is radical and total, and those who follow Him are called to measure themselves against it. Today the Evangelist presents to us three characters – three cases of vocation, we might say – that highlight what is required of those who want to follow Jesus fully and completely.

The first character promises Him: “I will follow you wherever you go” (v. 57). Generous! But Jesus responds that the Son of man, unlike the foxes which have dens and the birds which have nests, “has no place to lay his head” (v.58). The absolute poverty of Jesus. Indeed, Jesus left his father’s house and renounced every security to proclaim the Kingdom of God to the lost sheep of His people. In this way Jesus indicated to us, His disciples, that our mission in the world is not to be static, but to be itinerant. The Christian is an itinerant. The Church by nature is in movement, she does not remain sedentary and calm in her own enclosure. She is open to more vast horizons, sent – the Church is sent! – to take the Gospel into the streets and to reach the human and existential peripheries. This is the first character.

The second character Jesus meets receives the calling directly from Him, but responds, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father” (v. 59). It is a legitimate request, founded on the commandment to honour one’s father and mother (see Ex 20: 12). However Jesus replies, “Let the dead bury their own dead” (v. 60). With these words, deliberately provocative, He intends to affirm the primacy of discipleship and of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, even above the most important matters such as the family. The urgency of communicating the Gospel, which breaks the chain of death and inaugurates eternal life, does not permit delays, but requires readiness and availability. So, the Chruch is itinerant, and here the Church is decisive, acts readily, immediately, without waiting.

The third character also wants to follow Jesus, but on one condition: that he does so after going to say farewell to his relatives. And he hears the Master reply: “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (v. 62). Following Jesus excludes regrets and looking back, but requires the virtue of decision.

The Church, to follow Jesus, is itinerant, acts immediately, in a hurry, and is decisive. The value of these conditions placed by Jesus – itinerancy, readiness and decision – is not found in a series of the word “no” said to the good and important things in life. The emphasis, rather, is placed on the main objective: to become a disciple of Christ! A free and informed choice, made out of love, to reciprocate the priceless grace of God, and not as a way of promoting oneself. This is sad! Woe to those who think they can follow Jesus to promote themselves, that is to further their career, to feel important or to acquire a position of prestige. Jesus wants us to be passionate about Him and about the Gospel. A passion of the heart that is translated into concrete gestures of proximity, closeness to those brothers who are most in need of welcome and care. Just as He Himself lived.

May the Virgin Mary, icon of the outbound Church, help us to follow with joy the Lord Jesus and to announce to our brothers, with renewed love, the Good News of salvation.

SOURCE: http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2019/06/30/190630a.html