ANGELUS POPE FRANCIS
Saint Peter's Square
Sunday, 18 September 2016
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Dear
Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
Today, Jesus invites us to
reflect on two opposing ways of life: the way of the world and that of the
Gospel — the worldly spirit is not the spirit of Jesus — and He does so by recounting
the parable of the unfaithful and corrupt steward, who is praised by Jesus,
despite his dishonesty (cf. Lk 16:1-13). We must point out immediately that
this administrator is not presented as a model to follow, but as an example of
deceitfulness. This man is accused of mismanaging his master’s affairs, and
before being removed, astutely he tries to ingratiate himself with the debtors,
condoning part of their debt so as to ensure himself a future. Commenting on
this behaviour, Jesus observes: “For the sons of this world are wiser in their
own generation than the sons of light” (v. 8).
We are called to respond to
this worldly astuteness with Christian astuteness, which is a gift of the Holy
Spirit. This is a matter of departing from the worldly spirit and values, which
the devil really favours, in order to live according to the Gospel. How is
worldliness manifested? Worldliness is manifested by attitudes of corruption,
deception, subjugation, and it constitutes the most ill-chosen road, the road
of sin, because one leads you to the other! It’s like a chain, even if — it’s
true — it is generally the easiest road to travel. Instead, the spirit of the
Gospel requires a serious lifestyle — serious but joyful, full of joy! —
serious and challenging, marked by honesty, fairness, respect for others and
their dignity, and a sense of duty. And this is Christian astuteness!
The journey of life
necessarily involves a choice between two roads: between honesty and
dishonesty, between fidelity and infidelity, between selfishness and altruism,
between good and evil. You can not waver between one and the other, because
they move on different and conflicting forms of logic. The prophet Elijah said
to the people of Israel that went on these two roads: “You are limping with both
feet!” (cf. 1 Kings 18:21). It’s a fine image. It is important to decide which
direction to take and then, once you have chosen the right one, to walk it with
enthusiasm and determination, trusting in God’s grace and the support of His
Spirit. The conclusion of the Gospel passage is powerful and categorical: “No
servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other” (Lk 16:13).
With this teaching, Jesus
today urges us to make a clear choice between Him and the worldly spirit,
between the logic of corruption, of the abuse of power and greed, and that of
righteousness, meekness and sharing. Some people conduct themselves with
corruption as they do with drugs: they think they can use it and stop when they
want. It starts out small: a tip here, a bribe over there.... And between this
and that, one’s freedom is slowly lost. Corruption is also habit-forming, and
generates poverty, exploitation, and suffering. How many victims there are in
the world today! How many victims of this widespread corruption. But when we
try to follow the Gospel logic of integrity, clarity in intentions and in
behaviour, of fraternity, we become artisans of justice and we open horizons of
hope for humanity. In gratuitousness and by giving of ourselves to our brothers
and sisters, we serve the right master: God.
May the Virgin Mary help us to
choose at every opportunity and at all costs, the right way, even finding the
courage to go against the tide, in order to follow Jesus and his Gospel.
After the
Angelus:
Dear brothers and sisters,
yesterday, in Codrongianos [Italy] Elisabetta Sanna, a mother of a family, was
proclaimed Blessed. Widowed, she devoted herself entirely to prayer and to
serving the sick and the poor. Her testimony is a model of Gospel charity,
animated by faith.
On Tuesday, I will go to
Assisi for the prayer meeting for peace, 30 years after that historic meeting
convoked by St John Paul II. I invite parishes, ecclesial associations and individual
believers around the world to live that day as a Day of Prayer for
Peace. Today, more than ever, we need peace, in this war that is all over
the world. Let us pray for peace! Following the example of St Francis, man of
brotherhood and meekness, we are all called to offer to the world a strong
witness of our common commitment to peace and reconciliation among peoples. In
this way on Tuesday, everyone united in prayer: each one take some time,
whatever he or she can, to pray for peace. All the world united.
I warmly greet all of you,
people of Rome and pilgrims from various countries. In particular, I greet the
faithful of the diocese of Cologne and those of Marianopoli.
And I wish you all a good
Sunday. And please, do not forget to pray for me. Enjoy your lunch! Arrivederci!
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