In his homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis reflected on humility. He reminded those present that Jesus rejected the temptation of greatness. He said Christians crumble when they succumb to that thirst for power.
POPE FRANCIS
We have seen it in the great projects of history: Christians who seek to impose themselves, with force, with greatness, the conquests, but the Kingdom of God sprouts in the small things.
Members of the Council of Cardinals were present at the celebration. From Monday to Wednesday, they are meeting with the pope to review the reform of the Curia's Constitution.
EXTRACTS FROM POPE'S HOMILY
Redemption, revelation, the presence of God in the world begins like this, and is always like this. The revelation of God is made in smallness. Smallness, both humility and so many other things, but in smallness. The great seem powerful — let us think of Jesus in the desert, [and] how Satan appears powerful, the master of the whole world: “I will give you everything, if you…” The things of God, on the other hand, begin by sprouting, from a seed, little things. And Jesus speaks about this smallness in the Gospel.
In a Christian community where the faithful, the priests, the bishops do not take this path of littleness, there is no future, it will collapse. We have seen it in the great projects of history: Christians who seek to impose themselves, with force, with greatness, the conquests… But the Kingdom of God sprouts in the small thing, always in what is small, the small seed, the seed of life. But the seed by itself can do [nothing]. And there is another reality that helps and that gives strength: “On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him.
“Don’t be afraid, go forward; but at the same time, take into account the smallest things, this is divine.” A Christian always starts from smallness. If in my prayer I feel that I am small, with my limits, my sins, like that publican who prayed at the back of the Church, ashamed, [saying] “Have mercy on me, a sinner”, you will go forward. But if you believe that you are a good Christian, you will pray like that Pharisee who did not go forth justified: “I give you thanks, O God, because I am great”. No, we thank God because we are small.
Javier Romero
Translation: Claudia Torres
