During his Friday morning homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis said that while the world evolves, Christians and the Church must keep up. He added that it's important to keep faith in the Gospel and Jesus Christ.
POPE FRANCIS
'Times change and we Christians must continually change. We have to change firm in faith in Jesus Christ, firm in the truth of the Gospel. But our attitude has to move continuously according to the signs of the times. We are free. We are free thanks to the gift of freedom that Jesus Christ gave us. But our job is to look at what happens within us, to discern our feelings, our thoughts; and what happens around us and discern the signs of the times. With silence, with reflection and prayer.â?
But changing with the times does not mean simple conformity, the Pope explained. He said that following every trend is no different from always staying the same.
SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY:
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'We have this freedom to judge whatever is happening around us. But in order to judge, we must have a good knowledge of that is happening around us. And how can we do this? How can we do this, which the Church calls â??recognizing the signs of the times?â?? Times are changing. And itâ??s precisely Christian wisdom that recognizes these changes, recognizes the changing times and recognizes the signs of the times. What one thing and another thing means. And do this freely, without fear.â?
Pope Francis conceded that this is not an easy thing to do on account of the external conditioning that pressures Christians as well, encouraging many of them to seek comfort in doing nothing.
'This is something that we usually donâ??t do: we stick with conformity, we reassure ourselves with (words like) â??they told us, I heard, people said they readâ?¦.â?? In this way we are reassured. But what is the truth? What is the message that the Lord wants to give me with this sign of the times? First of all, in order to understand the signs of the times we need silence: to be silent and observe. And afterwards we need to reflect within ourselves. One example: why are there so many wars nowadays? Why did something happen? And prayâ?¦ silence, reflection and prayer. Itâ??s only in this way that we can understand the signs of the times, what Jesus wants to tell us.â?
ATO
CTV
VM
PR
Up: KLH
