蜜桃交友

By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ

Beginning his Mass on Thursday at the Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said he had been taken to task because he has forgotten to thank one group of people.

鈥淚 thanked doctors, nurses, volunteers. 鈥楤ut you have forgotten the pharmacists鈥�. They too have been working hard to help the sick get better. Let us pray for them as well鈥�.

Jesus鈥檚 presence stills our fears

In his homily, Pope Francis explained that the days after the resurrection of Jesus were not very tranquil in Jerusalem. The people were filled with 鈥渇ear, amazement, doubt鈥�, he said. 

Even the disciples, who knew that the Lord had risen, that He had appeared to Simon, and had heard the testimony of the disciples who returned from Emmaus, were afraid. Their fear heightened to fright when Jesus appeared in their midst and they thought that they were seeing a ghost (cf Lk 24: 37). It鈥檚 the same thing that happened when Jesus had come to them walking on the water (cf Jn 6: 19). That experience, and whatever Jesus had said to Peter after His resurrection, kept them silence this time.

Jesus鈥檚 presence calmed the fears of the disciples when He appeared to them and said: 鈥淲hy are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands! Touch me and see for yourselves! A ghost has no flesh and bones.鈥�

Fullness of joy

The disciples鈥� fear then transformed into overflowing joy. Their joy was so great that it kept them from believing. They were, in a sense, 鈥減aralyzed with joy.鈥� The disciples鈥� joy was 鈥渢he experience of the greatest possible consolation,鈥� said Pope Francis. It is 鈥渟omething different from being happy, positive or radiant.鈥�

鈥淛oy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit,鈥� notes the Pope. Regarding instances of joy, the Holy Father cited examples of Paul鈥檚 jailer in Philippi (cf Acts 16) and the Ethiopian eunuch after being baptized (cf Acts 8) who were 鈥渇illed with joy鈥� and Paul, in his letter to the Romans (15:13), when Paul asks the 鈥淕od of hope鈥� to fill his addressees 鈥渨ith all joy鈥�.

鈥淲ithout the Spirit, we cannot have joy. To receive the joy of the Spirit is a grace,鈥� the Pope added.

Call to joy

Pope Francis referred to Paul VI鈥檚 Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi (no. 80) in which he reflected on Christians and evangelizers who are filled with joy. This joy is similar to that felt by the people at the time of Ezra and Nehemiah when they discovered the Book of the Law. Nehemiah鈥檚 words to the Israelites as they were weeping after having heard the Book of the Law, 鈥渢he joy of the Lord is our strength鈥�, 鈥渨ill help us today鈥�, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis鈥檚 prayer

The Holy Father concluded praying that we might have the strength to preach the Gospel and be witnesses of the joy of the Lord. 鈥淭oday, let us ask Him to grant us this fruit鈥� of the Holy Spirit.