During his Tuesday morning Mass, Pope Francis explained why Christians should always be witnesses of their faith, even when it involves a life time commitment.
POPE FRANCIS
'When the Church closes in on Itself and when it thinks of Itself as a, so to speak, 'school of religion', with so many great ideas, with many beautiful temples, with many fine museums, with many beautiful things, but does not give witness, it becomes sterile. It's the same thing with Christians. The Christian who does not bear witness, is sterile, without giving the life he has received from Jesus Christ'.â?
The Pope asked Christians to reflect on their own lives, adding that the Holy Spirit always helps in trying times.
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S HOMILY
Source: Vatican Radio
'Martyrdom is the translation of a Greek word that also means witness. And so we can say that for a Christian the path follows in the footsteps of this witness, Christâ??s footsteps, to bear witness to Him and, many times, this witness ends up in laying down oneâ??s life . You cannot understand a Christian without witness. We are not a ' religion' of ideas, of pure theology, beautiful things, of commandments. No, we are a people who follow Jesus Christ and bear witness â?? who want to bear witness to Jesus Christ - and sometimes this witness leads to laying down our livesâ?.
'Witness, be it in everyday life, in difficulties, and even in persecution and death, always bears fruit. The Church is fruitful and a mother when she witnesses to Jesus Christ. Instead , when the church closes in on itself , when it thinks of itself as a - so to speak - 'school of religion', with so many great ideas, with many beautiful temples, with many fine museums, with many beautiful things, but does not give witness, it becomes sterile. The Christian is the same. The Christian who does not bear witness, is sterile, without giving the life he has received from Jesus Christ'.
'Today thinking about these two icons - Stephen, who dies, and the people, the Christians, fleeing, scattering far and wide because of the violent persecution - let us ask: How is my witness? Am I a Christian who witnesses to Jesus or are a simple numerary in this sect ? Am I fruitful because I bear witness, or sterile because unable to let the Holy Spirit lead me forward in my Christian vocation?' .
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