蜜桃交友

By Pope

For the first time in history, Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass alone in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica. Out of respect for Covid-19 regulations limiting large gatherings, the Mass was held without a congregation. Millions of people joined the Holy Father, however, via the internet, radio and television.

The Pope based his homily on St Paul鈥檚 Letter to the Philippians, where the Apostle describes Jesus as emptying Himself and 鈥渢aking the form of a servant鈥� (Phil 2:7). 

鈥淟et us allow these words of the Apostle Paul to lead us into these holy days鈥�, said Pope Francis, 鈥渨hen the Word of God, like a refrain, presents Jesus as servant鈥�.

God serves us

鈥淲e often think we are the ones who serve God鈥�, began the Pope. Instead, 鈥淗e is the one who freely chose to serve us, for He loved us first.

The Lord served us by giving His life for us, continued Pope Francis. He did this 鈥渨ith the humility, patience and obedience of a servant, and purely out of love鈥�.  

鈥淭he Lord served us to the point of experiencing the most painful situations of those who love: betrayal and abandonment鈥�, he added.

Betrayal

鈥淛esus suffered betrayal by the disciple who sold Him and by the disciple who denied Him鈥�, explained Pope Francis. 鈥淗e was betrayed by the people who sang hosanna to Him and then shouted: 鈥楥rucify Him!鈥� 鈥�.

We have all suffered betrayals in life, the Pope acknowledged. Betrayal risks provoking disappointment 鈥渢hat can even make life seem meaningless鈥�, he added, because 鈥渨e were born to be loved and to love鈥�.

Healing

鈥淚f we are honest with ourselves, we will see our infidelities鈥�, continued Pope Francis: the   鈥渇alsehoods, hypocrisies and duplicities鈥�. The Lord knows 鈥渉ow weak and irresolute we are, how many times we fall, how hard it is for us to get up, and how difficult it is to heal certain wounds鈥�, he said.

Despite all that, Jesus still comes to our aid. He serves us and heals us 鈥渂y taking upon Himself our infidelity鈥�, explained the Pope. 鈥淚nstead of being discouraged by the fear of failing, we can now look upon the crucifix, feel His embrace鈥�, and say: 鈥淵ou serve me with your love, you continue to support me鈥� And so I will keep pressing on鈥�.

Abandonment

Turning to the Gospel for Palm Sunday, Pope Francis noted Jesus鈥� words from the Cross: 鈥淢y God, my God, why have you forsaken me?鈥� (Mt 27:46). Everyone had fled, 鈥渂ut the Father remained for Him鈥�, said the Pope. These words tell us that Jesus Himself experienced desolation and utmost abandonment.

All of this took place 鈥渇or our sake, to serve us鈥�, continued the Pope. 鈥淛esus did it for me, for you, to say to us: 鈥業 experienced all your desolation in order to be ever close to you鈥欌��. 

Consolation

Pope Francis then addressed the Coronavirus emergency.

鈥淭oday, in the tragedy of a pandemic, in the face of the many false securities that have now crumbled, in the face of so many hopes betrayed, in the sense of abandonment that weighs upon our hearts, Jesus says to each one of us: 鈥楥ourage, open your heart to my love. You will feel the consolation of God who sustains you鈥欌��.    

We serve others

鈥淭he tragedy we are experiencing summons us to take seriously the things that are serious, and not to be caught up in those that matter less鈥�, Pope Francis suggested.

During these holy days, 鈥渕ay we reach out to those who are suffering and those most in need. May we not be concerned about what we lack, but what good we can do for others鈥�, said the Pope.

鈥淟oving, praying, forgiving, caring for others, in the family and in society鈥� can be difficult, admitted Pope Francis. 鈥淏ut the path of service is the victorious and lifegiving path by which we were saved鈥�.

Saying 鈥測es鈥� to love

The Pope then addressed young people, 鈥渙n this Day which has been dedicated to them for thirty-five years now鈥�. He invited them to consider what he called 鈥渞eal heroes鈥�: not famous, rich and successful people, but 鈥渢hose who are giving themselves in order to serve others鈥�. His final words were for them:

鈥淔eel called yourselves to put your lives on the line. Do not be afraid to devote your life to God and to others; it pays!  For life is a gift we receive only when we give ourselves away, and our deepest joy comes from saying 鈥榶es鈥� to love, without ifs and buts.  As Jesus did for us.