During his Thursday homily at Casa Santa Marta, the Pope reflected on the unity of Christians and criticized the 'weed-sowers,â? saying that with their gossip they can do much harm.
POPE FRANCIS
'Speaking about others behind their back is like this: it dirties the other. He destroys! He destroys the reputation, he destroys the life, and so many timesâ??so many times!â??without reason, contrary to the truth. Jesus has prayed for us, for all of us, that we might remain here, and for our communities, for our parishes, for our dioceses: 'That they might be one.' Let us pray to the Lord that He might give us the grace, because the strength of the devil, of sin, that pushes us to disunity is so great, so great. Always!â?
Pope Francis said history shows that reaching unity in a Christian community is very difficult. The Pope reflected on a history of struggles between brothers, which makes them ashamed so often and that's why they must ask for forgiveness. In fact, he regrets the fact that Christians celebrate Easter on different dates.
EXTRACTS OF THE POPE'S HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'The unity of the Christian community, of the Christian family, is a witness: a witness to the fact that the Father has sent the Son. And, perhaps, arriving at unityâ??in a Christian community, in a parish, in the Bishopâ??s residence, in a Christian institution, in a Christian familyâ??is one of the most difficult things. Our history, the history of the Church, makes us ashamed so often: but we have waged war against our Christian brothers! To mention just one, we think of the Thirty Yearsâ?? War.â?
'We have to ask, very often, for forgiveness from the Lord for this history! A history so many times of divisionâ??but not just in the pastâ?¦ Also today! Also today! And the world sees that we are divided and says: 'But let them come to an agreement among themselves, then weâ??ll seeâ?¦ How, if Jesus is Risen and alive, are these, His disciples, not in accord with one another?â? Once, a Catholic Christian said to another Christian, from the Eastâ??also a Catholicâ??'My Christ rises the day after tomorrow. When does yours rise?â? We are not even united in Easter! And this in the whole world. And the world does not believe.â?
'Speaking about others behind their back is like this: it dirties the other. He destroys! He destroys the reputation, he destroys the life, and so many timesâ??so many times!â??without reason, contrary to the truth. Jesus has prayed for us, for all of us, that we might remain here, and for our communities, for our parishes, for our dioceses: 'That they might be one.' Let us pray to the Lord that He might give us the grace, because the strength of the devil, of sin, that pushes us to disunity is so great, so great. Always! That He might give us the grace, that He might give us the gift. And what is the gift that creates unity? The Holy Spirit! That He might give us this gift that produces harmony, because He is harmony, the glory in our communities. And that He might give us peace, but with unity. Let us ask for the grace of unity for all Christians, the great grace, and the little grace of every day for our communities, our families; and the grace to bite our tongues!â?
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