During his homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis spoke about the importance of having big hearts, but acting with simplicity. In other words, having humble hearts.
POPE FRANCIS
'Humility is a childlike virtue and this is true humility and not a rather theatrical humility: no, not that: the humility of somebody who said: â??I am humble, but proud of being so.â?? No, that is not true humility. The humility of the childlike is that of somebody who walks in the presence of the Lord, does not speak badly about others, looks only at serving and feels that he or she is the smallestâ?¦ That is where their strength lies.â?
The pope recalled that according to the Bible, the only ones who will understand the mysteries of God are the small and the humble, and not the wise.
EXTRACTS OF PAPAL HOMILY
(Source: Vatican Radio)
'Then at Christmas, we see this smallness, this little thing: a baby, a stable, a mother, a fatherâ?¦ little ones. (They have) big hearts but the attitude of a child. And the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to rest on this shoot and this small shoot will have the virtue of the childlike and the fear of the Lord. He will walk in the fear of the Lord. Fear of the Lord is not terror: no, it is putting into practice Godâ??s commandment that he gave to our father Abram: â??Live in my presence, be perfect,â?? Humble â?? this is humility, fear of the Lord is humility.â?
'Living our humility, Christian humility means having this fear of the Lord which, I repeat, is not terror but is:â??You are God, I am a person, I journey forward in this way with the little things of life but walking in Your presence and trying to be perfect.â?? Humility is the virtue of the childlike and this is true humility and not a rather theatrical humility: no, not that: the humility of somebody who said: â??I am humble but proud of being so.â?? No, that is not true humility. The humility of the childlike is that of somebody who walks in the presence of the Lord, does not speak badly about others, looks only at serving and feels that he or she is the smallestâ?¦ That is where their strength lies.â?
'Looking at Jesus who rejoiced because God reveals his mystery to the humble, we can ask for the grace of humility for all of us, the grace of fear of God, of walking in his presence trying to be perfect. And in this way with this humility, we can be vigilant in prayer, carrying out works of brotherly charity and rejoicing and giving praise.â?
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