Today in his homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis spoke about how with Christ there is a confidence that comes from the security and testimony that the Lord has given the Church and its members.
POPE FRANCIS
'Security in the fullness of promises in Christ: in Christ everything is accomplished. Testimony to others: a gift received from God in Christ, who gave us the anointing of the Spirit that we might be witnesses. This is what it is to be Christian: to illuminate so that both the message and people do not become corrupt â?? [to preserve] as salt does; but, if the light is hidden, if the salt becomes tasteless, without strength â?? if it weakens â?? the testimony will be weak.â?
He concluded saying just as one might have a sunny disposition, those who accept the anointing of the Holy Spirit make the light shine forth in the world.
EXCERPTS OF HOMILY IN ENGLISH
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'In Jesus there is no â??noâ??: always â??yes,â?? for the glory of the Father. But we too share this â??Yesâ?? of Jesus, because He has given us the anointing, he has imprinted on us the Seal, has given us the â??security depositâ?? of the Spirit. We participate because we are united, sealed, and have in our hand that security â?? the security deposit of the Spirit â?? the Spirit that will bring us to the definitive â??Yes,â?? and also to our own fullness. Also, that same Spirit that will help us to become light and salt, that is to say, it is the Spirit that leads us to give Christian witness.â?
'Everything is positive, and that Christian witness is salt and light. Light to illuminate â?? and anyone who hides the light gives counter-testimony, taking refuge in the 'yes' and a little bit of 'no.' These, then, have the light, but do not give it, do not make it to shine forth â?? and if they do not allow the light they have shine forth, they do not glorify the Father who is in heaven. He who has salt, but he takes it for himself and does not give of it that he may avoid corruption.â?
''Yes - yes,' and 'no-no:' decisive words, as the Lord has taught us, anything extra comes from the Evil One. It is, this attitude of security and testimony that the Lord has entrusted to the Church and to all of us baptized: Security in the fullness of promises in Christ: in Christ everything is accomplished. Testimony to others: a gift received from God in Christ, who gave us the anointing of the Spirit that we might be witnesses. This is what it is to be Christian: to illumine, to be of help in seeing that both the message and people are not corrupted â?? [to preserve] as salt does; but, if the light is hidden, if the salt becomes tasteless, without strength â?? if it weakens â?? the testimony will be weak. Only, this is [what happens] when I do not accept the anointing, when I do not accept the seal, when I do not accept that â??security depositâ?? of the Spirit that is in me. And this is done when I do not accept the â??yesâ?? in Jesus Christ.â?
'When a person is full of light, we say that person is â??of a sunny disposition:â?? We are used to saying, â??There goes someone with a sunny disposition.â?? This can help us to understand this. This is even more than a sunny disposition. This is the reflection of the Father in Jesus in whom all promises are fulfilled. This is the reflection of the unction of the Spirit we all have. Why is this so? Why did we receive this? Both readings tell us. Paul says: â??For this reason, the Amen from us also goes through [Christ] to God for glory,â?? and Jesus said to the disciples, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Thus is the Christian's life.â?? Let us ask this grace to cling, to be rooted in the fullness of the promises in Christ Jesus who is the â??yesâ??, totally â??yesâ??, and to bring this fullness with the salt and light of our testimony to others to give Glory to the Father who is in heaven.â?
