2023-09-24 12:35:15
Pope Francis’ last public event in Marseille was to celebrate Mass at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille. He invited European society to “feel from the heart” the discarded lives of immigrants, unborn babies and lonely elders, and to rediscover “the joy of committing oneself to brotherhood”.
(Vatican News Network) Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille on the followingnoon of September 23. This was the last public event of his trip. More than 50,000 believers attended the ceremony, including not only locals in Marseille, but also many people from other parts of the Old World. This Mass is dedicated to the “Mother of the Patrons”, the protector of sailors, fishermen and all Maasai people, whose statue stands at the top of the cathedral’s bell tower.
Do you believe God is at work in our lives?
The Pope’s homily at Mass began with the Virgin’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, an encounter between a young virgin and an old woman who had never given birth. The Pope said that this event “demonstrates the visitation of God to humanity”, who “continuously comes to us, seeks us with his mercy and makes us exult with joy”. Do we believe that “the Lord also works wonders in our worldly and indifferent society?”
Those who trust in the Lord feel the joy of faith
One sign of knowing whether we have this kind of trust in the Lord is the joy that John the Baptist did: “He who believes, prays and welcomes the Lord rejoices in the Holy Spirit and feels something working within him. , ‘dancing’ with joy.” The Pope thus discussed the “joy of faith.” First, the experience of faith produces a “jubilation for life”, that is, “the heart is touched, there is an inner excitement, a feeling that something is moving in our hearts.”
On the contrary, a cold and mediocre heart “drags life forward mechanically, without passion, motivation, or desire.” In European societies, “we get sick of it: cynicism, discouragement, resignation, a sense of uncertainty, and a general sadness.” These may be called “sad emotions”: an emotion without the joy of life.
Therefore, those who have faith “recognize the presence of God in every day’s events, like the fetus in Elizabeth’s womb.” With this “new vision”, we can see God’s presence and feel His companionship and support every day, even in “difficulties, difficulties and sufferings”.
God visits us through encounters with vulnerable people
On the other hand, the experience of faith also makes us “joy in the presence of our neighbours.” The Pope explained that in the mystery of the Visitation of Mary, God visits “not through wonderful extraordinary events, but through ordinary encounters”, through “the tender embrace of two women, two children full of wonder and hope” Pregnant Women’s Encounter.” This encounter contains “the joy of sharing.” The same is true within the Church, the Pope said.
“God creates relationships and often comes to us through human encounters, if only we know how to be open to others, if there is a joy in the lives of those with whom we come into contact every day, if our hearts are open to the wounds of the more vulnerable Instead of being indifferent and indifferent in front of us, we will become aware of God’s visitation.”
Rediscover the joy of brotherhood in our city
The pope went on to say that the “coexistence of different cultures and religions” in our metropolises and in European countries such as France poses “a great challenge to combat increased individualism, selfishness and isolation that produce loneliness and suffering”. We must learn from Jesus, who “cares for the people living around us”. Jesus has compassion for the tired crowds, and his heart “beats with compassion before the hurt people he meets.”
Finally, the Pope spoke of the many “beating” hearts of France, the country’s rich history that has produced saintly and cultured people, artists and thinkers who have fascinated generations.
“Today our lives, the life of the Church, France and Europe also need this kind of grace: a joyful grace, a new joy of faith, hope and charity. We need to rediscover passion and enthusiasm, to rediscover The joy of committing yourself to brotherhood, daring to take risks for the love of family and caring for the weakest, and discovering in the Gospel the grace that transforms life for the better.”
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