Pope: Young people; do not be afraid to follow the “alternative” route of true love
Loreto, Italy, Sep.03,2007 (CINS/AsiaNews) – In an exigent and a clear proposal
yesterday Pope Benedict XVI invited the young people gathered on the Montorso plain between Loreto and the Adriatic sea, to a lifestyle that “goes against the trend”, to transform society by following the “humble” example of Mary. In his homily during mass concluding the Youth Agorà, he said: “Do not follow the path of pride, rather, follow the path of humility” Go against the trend: do not listen to that chorus of bias and persuasive voices which today put forward a model of life that is drenched in arrogance and violence, in dominance and success at all costs, where appearance and possession to the detriment of others is openly promoted. All of these messages carried by the mass media are aimed at you! Be vigilant! Be critical! Do not follow the trend produced by this powerfully persuasive media. Do not be afraid, my dear friends, to prefer the ‘alternative’ route indicated by true love: a sober style of life, a life of solidarity; an honest commitment to your studies and work; a cultivated interest in the common good. Do not be afraid to appear different, or the criticism that you are out of fashion or a loser; people your age, even adults, all of those who seem far from the mentality of the Gospel values, have a deep seated need to see someone who dares to live according to the fullness of humanity manifested by Jesus Christ”.
The pope’s words met with the warm applause of the immense crowd gathered on the plain. Yesterday alone, over 300 thousand people for the vigil; this morning, the arrival of thousands more young people pushing the numbers up to touch half a million. Many of them spent the night in the open, in prayer and meditation or in dialogue, helped by the “fountains of light”, illuminated meeting points placed at intervals throughout the plain, where priests and catechists were present to listen, hear confessions, speak about vocations, until first light appeared and the Morning Prayer said.
The courage of humility
What Benedict XVI proposed is a veritable way of life for anyone who wishes to remain “young”. Yesterday evening during the vigil the testimonies of some young people laid bare the difficulties and insecurities, the marginalization and unemployment linked to the world of the young. Today the pope affirmed that “Jesus has a special preference for the young” and that God himself “seeks young hearts …. To become the protagonists of the New Alliance”.
The pope’s programme for young people is taken from Mary’s “youth” and has at its foundation her humility. Recalling the nearby sanctuary of Loreto, where stones from the Holy House of Nazareth are preserved he affirmed: “the Holy House of Nazareth is the sanctuary of humility: the humility of God who became flesh and of Mary who welcomed him to her womb”.
The pope is not afraid of showing the stark opposition between the ideals of the world and Christianity: “The humble – he says – are perceived as being defeated and beaten, people who have nothing to offer the world. Yet this is the master route, not only because humility is a great virtue, but because above all it represents the very way in which God himself behaves. It is the path chosen by Christ”. And after having underlined the necessity of a witness that “goes against the trend”, he adds: “My dear friends, the path of humility is not the path of renunciation, it is the path of true courage. It is not the result of a defeat but of victory of love over selfishness and of grace over sin. In following Christ and imitating Mary, we must have the courage of humility”.
The “new paths” which the young people need to follow imply the ability to say “yes to God”, from who “all the yes of our lives” descend. There is also something new in our view of the faith and of the Church: “Our faith does is not merely a list of moral prerogatives, rather, it is a glorious journey towards the light of our Yes to God. It is true; there are many great challenges ahead of you. The first of which remains the challenge of following Christ to the very depths, without reservations, without compromise. Following Christ means being a living part of his body, which is the Church. You cannot call yourself a disciple of Jesus if you do not love and follow his Church”.
The Church (which is not a “power centre”, he had said last night) is a place which unites, not for “success”, but for “the good of humanity, a good which is both authentic and shared, and which does not subsist in power or possession, but in being”. These radical decisions are necessary in order to build “the city of God with man, a city which grows contemporarily from the ground up and from Heaven downwards, because it develops in the encounter and collaboration between man and God”. ( Ap 21,2-3)”.
Stewards of creation
In building “a more just and sharing society, where everyone can enjoy the fruits of the earth”, the pontiff indicates one priority: that of “safeguarding creation”. “The future of the planet – said the pope – “is in the hands of the new generations, a planet where the signs of a development that has not always protected the delicate equilibrium of nature, can be seen. Before it is too late, we must take courageous steps, to recreate the alliance between man and earth. We need to say yes to safeguarding creation, we must decidedly commit ourselves to invert those tendencies which risk bringing about irreversible degradation”. In fact today the Italian Church celebrates the National Day for the protection of creation, dedicated to water, “a precious good, which if not peacefully and equally shared, is destined to become a motive for tension and bitter conflict”.
And after having invited the young people once again – just as last night – to participate in the World Youth Day Sydney 2008, the pope turned to the Blessed Virgin: “In the end …..We turn our eyes towards Mary, model of humility and of courage. Help us, Virgin of Nazareth, to be docile to the work of the Holy Spirit, as you were; help us to become ever more saintly, disciples in love with your Son Jesus Christ; sustain and accompany these young people so that they may be joyful and tireless missionaries of the Gospel among their contemporaries, in every corner of Italy. Amen!”
At the end of his homily, the applause, waving of banners, scarves and the shouting of slogans lasted so long that the pope was forced to ask for silence in order to continue the mass.
The silence of the Home and the witness of the town square
In the Angelus, the pontiff returned once again to underlining the bond between Loreto and Nazareth, the place of the annunciation to Mary: “Loreto second only to Nazareth, is the ideal place to pray and meditate on the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God….the place where the Virgin said ‘yes’ to God and conceived in her womb the eternal incarnate Word”.
The pope recalled that every “agorà”, every public moment, needs a “home”, a place of contemplation: “The town square is big, it is open, it is the meeting place for many for dialogue and confrontation; the home, instead, is the place of inner gathering and silence, where the Word can be heard in its depths. In order to bring God to the town square, first you must gather him to your inner being at home, just like Mary in the Annunciation”. And he adds that likewise” the home must open out onto the square: this is further suggested by the Holy House in Loreto, which has three walls not four: it is an open Home, open on the world, open to life and even to the Agorà of young Italians”.
The last proposal made by the pope is that Loreto become a constant reference point in the lives of the young: “In the most important moment of your lives come here, at least in your hearts, to gather yourselves spiritually between the walls of the Holy House…. Then will you become its true witnesses in the ‘squares’, in society, bringers of a Gospel that is not abstract, but incarnated in your own lives”.
Confirming this commitment to witnessing God in society, at the end of the mass 72 young people from diocese across Italy received the missionary Mandate of the Italian Agorà, to bring the faith “with joy and gratitude” throughout the world. The pope bestowed on them the so-called “pilgrims sackcloth”, distributed by two bishops.
Fr.Bossi to be in Loreto with the Pope and young people to talk about his missionary experience
Manila,Philippines,July.23,2007(CINS/AsiaNews) – “I will share what my heart will prompt,” said Fr Giancarlo Bossi as he announced that he would talk about his ordeal and missionary experience in the Philippines, happy that he will get a chance to speak to Italian youth together with Pope Benedict XVI. He said this as he accepted an invitation by Mgr Giuseppe Betori, secretary-general of the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI), to attend the World Youth Day celebration in the central Italian town of Loreto, September 1-2.
Recently Father Bossi told AsiaNews that he wanted to meet Pope Benedict XVI, a request that the CEI accepted in order to give the PIME missionary an opportunity to talk to young Italian Catholics about his experience during their two-day meeting.
Bossi's “courageous experience as a missionary will enter into the hearts of many young people,” Betori said, and serve as a example for those who, like him, want to make the Gospel their life’s raison d’être and the root of their hope for living amongst others.”
Father Bossi’s experience in captivity made the PIME missionary’s faith stronger.
He described how he prayed with his captors, started discussions with them about understanding oneself and different people’s points of view and finding what made them happy.
“After some days we became close,” he said, claiming he would even crack jokes with his kidnappers, igniting a friendly debate with them over Christian and Islamic beliefs and comparing the Bible to the Qur’an.
However, he warned that more foreign missionaries will be kidnapped in Mindanao unless drastic measures are taken by concerned authorities.
“My kidnappers are no longer interested in taking locals as they now want to take foreigners like me [. . .]. But they promised me that [if I go back to Payao] they would never take me again,” he said.
Kidnappers pick foreigners like him to raise more money for their illegal activities.
“Despite what happened to me, I really love the Filipinos and I will continue to love them. I am really grateful to them since I know that even before I was released, their sense of solidarity was strong, that all of them wanted me to soon surface,” he said.
Meanwhile Mindanao the Ecumenical Bishops Forum (ESF) of Mindanao joined Catholic bishops in opposing the Human Security Act adopted by the government on July 15.
The growing militarisation of the region by Manila is seen as “an aggression” by the local population and results in “extrajudicial killings and abductions” of local community leaders, including Church leaders. In the forum’s view, the law is “oppressive, barbaric and demonic.”
Pope encourages young people to prepare for the WYD
Vatican City,July.04,2007,(CINS/VIS) - At the end of today's general audience, the Pope addressed young people who are currently preparing for the next World Youth Day (WYD), due to be held in July 2008 in Sydney, Australia.Speaking English, the Holy Father encouraged the young people "to prepare well for this marvelous celebration of the faith. ... Enter fully into the life of your parishes and participate enthusiastically in diocesan events! In this way you will be equipped spiritually to experience new depths of understanding of all that we believe when we gather in Sydney next July."
"I know that already the ecclesial and government authorities, together with numerous young Australians, are working very hard to ensure an exceptional experience for us all. I offer them my heartfelt thanks.
"World Youth Day is much more than an event," Pope Benedict added. "It is a time of deep spiritual renewal, the fruits of which benefit the whole of society."
"Some of you have friends with little real purpose in their lives, perhaps caught up in a futile search for endless new experiences. Bring them to World Youth Day too! In fact, I have noticed that against the tide of secularism many young people are rediscovering the satisfying quest for authentic beauty, goodness and truth. Through your witness you help them in their search for the Spirit of God."
The Holy Father concluded: "Be courageous in that witness! Strive to spread Christ's guiding light, which gives purpose to all life, making lasting joy and happiness possible for everyone."
More than 500 people light ‘candles of hope’ for religious freedom
Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia,June.22,2007(CINS/AsiaNews) – More than 500 people from different religious backgrounds met Wednesday night for a candlelight vigil to protest against the continued detention of M Revathi, a Hindu woman sentenced to an Islamic rehabilitation centre. Participants lighted candles of hope for religious freedom and the right to love, carrying banners that said: ‘Secular is not anti-religion’ and ‘Stop breaking up families’.Revathi’s parents are Indian. They converted to Islam before she war born. However, she claims to be Hindu and married a Hindu man in March 2004 in a Hindu wedding ceremony. The couple now has child.
Soon after, the Malacca Religious Department (Jaim) told her to get her faith officially recognised by the Malacca Syariah (Sharia) Court. However, her application was turned down in January and she sent to the Akidah Rehabilitation Centre in Ulu Yam, Selangor, for 100 days as required by law. Her sentence was extended by an additional 80 days because during that time she failed to show any signs of repentance.
The prayer vigil, which was held at the Dataran Merdeka, drew Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and members of other minority groups. Officials from the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) were also present.
“We are all here hopeful that the state may recognise and respect religious freedom as enshrined in the constitution,” said Meera Samanther, president of the Women's Aid Organisation.
In Malaysia two legal systems exist side by side: Sharia law and the secular constitution. But the two are often in conflict. For instance whilst the constitution guarantees religious freedom, Islamic law forbids Muslims to convert to other religions. More importantly, when the two clash, it is Sharia law that prevails and is imposed on all parties, including on non-Muslims.
He Has Visited His People and Loved Them by Fr.Richard J. Ounsworth O.P.
10 June 2007
Tenth Sunday of the Year (C)
Readings
1 Kings 17:17-24
After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And she said to Eli'jah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!" And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him from her bosom, and carried him up into the upper chamber, where he lodged, and laid him upon his own bed. And he cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, hast thou brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?" Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's soul come into him again." And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Eli'jah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. And Eli'jah took the child, and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Eli'jah said, "See, your son lives." And the woman said to Eli'jah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."
Galatians 1:11-19
For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.
Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterward he went to a city called Na'in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Fr Richard Joseph Ounsworth preaches on the raising of a widow's son.
In some places the feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated today, and a sermon for Corpus Christi can be found here.
Usually on Sundays the Church usually gives us a first reading that in some way points forwards to the Gospel reading, and today's is a particularly obvious example. St Luke can't possibly have missed the strong similarities between these two stories.
At the end of the first reading, the widow to whom Elijah has restored her son concludes that Elijah is a true prophet: 'Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.' And obviously we are suppose to agree with the woman: we have already been told several times in 1 Kings that 'the word of the Lord came to him'. Are we also supposed to agree with the conclusion of the people at the end of today's Gospel, that 'a great prophet has arisen among us' and 'God has visited his people'?
It certainly looks like it. Notice how these words echo the language of Zechariah at the beginning of the Gospel, when the father of John the Baptist was 'filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied':
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people,
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David...
Go back too to the middle of chapter four of Luke's Gospel and see how Jesus began his preaching ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth; how he claimed that the Spirit that filled Elijah and all the prophets has anointed him to heal the sick and 'to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord'. Jesus goes on to speak to the crowd about Elijah's visit to the widow, and about the healing of Naaman the Syrian by Elijah's successor, Elisha.
It can hardly be a coincidence that what happens in Luke just before the raising of the widow's son is the healing of the slave of the centurion -- a foreigner, and an enemy soldier at that, just like Naaman the Syrian. We are shown by the placing of these two miracles one after another that the ideal of a prophet that Jesus put forward is already being fulfilled when Jesus goes out among the people to preach his message. The people are right that 'a great prophet has arisen among us.'
But we mustn't lose sight of the source of Jesus's prophetic ministry. That he is a prophet who works mighty wonders, there can be no doubt, and we agree entirely with the people, but we want to say more, and St Luke tells us more, if we stop to notice it in the middle of today's reading. Jesus doesn't raise up the widow's son because that will prove to the people that he's a prophet; he doesn't do it for himself at all -- he does it for her.
We are told 'when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her…' The Greek word that St Luke uses for feeling compassion is a favourite of mine: splankhnizomai, which comes from the word for guts -- Jesus is 'gutted' for her, his bowels are twisted up with sorrow and pity at her plight, for she has been left destitute as well as grieving, utterly alone and without anyone to love her.
No wishy-washy 'feeling sorry', this, but an earthy, gutsy love. This is the pity of a man who knows what it is to suffer, to grieve, to be abandoned, to weep with agonising sorrow. It is the love of someone who suffers when he sees another suffering, like a mother suffers, almost physically, when her child is in pain. That is what drives Jesus forward on his journey to his own death, and that is the source of his prophetic ministry.
And more remarkable yet is that the one who feels this love is God himself. As the evangelist says, 'when the Lord saw her, he had compassion…' The crowds do not acknowledge Jesus as Lord, but we are to do so; we are to recognise that when they say 'God has visited his people' they are saying more than they realise. This man of pity, this man who is driven by love of his fellow man, this is our God, the Lord of all. The story of Jesus is not just the story of the greatest of all the prophets, working his mighty wonders; it is the story of how God visited his people and loved them.
About the Preacher:Fr. Richard Joseph Ounsworth teaches scripture at Blackfriars, Oxford, and is editor of torch.op.org
This article is reproduced with the Permission of Electronic Publishing House of the English Province of the Order of Preachers,the Dominicans.