蜜桃交友

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel of the day (Luke 7:11-17) during his homily on Tuesday at Casa Santa Marta, which recounts the raising of the son of the widow of Nain. He presented Jesus, the icon of the shepherd, whose authority came from his compassion expressed in meekness, tenderness, and closeness to the people. The Pope encouraged pastors to imitate Jesus in being near to people, not near to the powerful or ideologues whom, he says, 鈥減oison souls鈥�.

The source of Jesus鈥� authority

What gave Jesus authority, Pope Francis explained, was that 鈥渉e spent most of his time on the road鈥�, touching, embracing, listening and looking at the people in the eye. 鈥淗e was near them鈥�, the Pope said. 鈥渢his is what gave him authority鈥�.

Jesus was meek

Jesus taught the same thing that many others taught, the Pope continued. It was how he taught that was different. Jesus 鈥渨as meek, and did not cry out. He did not punish the people鈥�. He never trumpeted the fact that he was the Messiah or a Prophet. 鈥淚n the Gospel, when Jesus was not with people, he was with the Father praying鈥�, Pope Francis said. His meekness toward the Father was expressed when he 鈥渧isited the house of his Father which had become a shopping mall鈥�.鈥� He was angry and threw everyone out, the Pope said. 鈥淗e did this because he loved the Father, because he was humble before the Father鈥�.

Jesus felt tender compassion

Jesus was overcome with compassion for the widow. Jesus 鈥渢hought with his heart鈥�, which was not separated from his head, Pope Francis said. Then Jesus tenderly touches her and speaks to her, 鈥淒o not weep鈥�. 鈥淭his is the icon of the pastor鈥�. The pastor 鈥渘eeds to have the power and authority that Jesus had, that humility, that meekness, that nearness, the capacity to be compassionate and tender鈥�, the Pope said.

Silence and prayer: the last words

The Pope brought up that it was also the people who yelled 鈥渃rucify him鈥�. Jesus then compassionately remained silent because 鈥渢he people were deceived by the powerful鈥�, Pope Francis explained. His response was silence and prayer. Here the shepherd chooses silence when the 鈥淕reat Accuser鈥� accuses him 鈥渢hrough so many people鈥�. Jesus 鈥渟uffers, offers his life, and prays鈥�, Pope Francis said.

That prayer carried him even to the Cross, with strength; even there he had the capacity of drawing near to and healing the soul of the repentant thief.