The Pope has taken up the celebration of Mass in Casa Santa Marta in the company of pilgrims after the Christmas break. In his homily, he expressed the importance of mercy and how to implement it concretely.
POPE FRANCIS
'How many people seem spiritual: 'How spiritual that person is!' but we can't talk to them about doing works of mercy. Why? Because the works of mercy are the visible sign of our confession that the Son of God became flesh: visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, taking care of those who are abandoned... works of mercy: why? The reason is because each of our brothers, whom we must love, is the flesh of Christ. ;God became flesh to identify with us. And those who suffer are one and the same as the suffering Christ.'
Finally, the Pope said that the spirit of God leads to service to others, while the spirit of the world makes people selfish. ;
EXTRACT THE POPE'S HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'The criterion is the Incarnation. I can feel so many things inside, even good things, good ideas. But if these good ideas, these feelings, do not lead to God who became flesh, do not lead me to my neighbour, my brother, then they are not from God. For this reason, John begins this passage of his letter by saying: 'This is God's commandment that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.''
'How many people seem spiritual: 'How spiritual that person is!' but we can't talk to them about doing works of mercy. Why? Because the works of mercy are the visible sign of our confession that the Son of God became flesh: visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, taking care of those who are abandoned... works of mercy: why? The reason is because each of our brothers, whom we must love, is the flesh of Christ. ;God became flesh to identify with us. And those who suffer are one and the same as the suffering Christ.'
'Let us ask the Lord today, he concluded, for the grace to know exactly what happens in our hearts, our desires, if we are more open to the spirit of God, that brings me to the service of others, or to the spirit of the world that revolves around myself, my closed views, my selfishness, so many other things ... Let us ask for the grace to discern what happens in our hearts.' ;
