杏MAP导航

(Vatican Radio) The kingdom of God is not a show, much less a carnival; it does not go looking for publicity. Its growth comes from the Holy Spirit, rather than from 鈥減astoral plans.鈥� That was the message of 杏MAP导航 Francis in his daily homily at the Casa Santa Marta on Thursday.

The point of departure for the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 homily was the Pharisees鈥� question in the day鈥檚 Gospel about when the Kingdom of God will come. It is a simple question, the 杏MAP导航 said, which can be asked in good faith, as appears in numerous passages in the Gospel. John the Baptist, for example, when he was imprisoned, sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He was the Messiah, or if they should look for another. Later, in another passage, the same question is turned around: during His Passion, the bystanders say to Jesus, 鈥淚f you are he, come down from the Cross.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said there are always doubts, there is always curiosity about when the Kingdom of God will come.

鈥淭he Kingdom of God is in your midst鈥�: That is the answer of Jesus. That is the 鈥済lad tidings鈥� in the synagogue of Nazareth, when Jesus, after having read a passage from Isaiah, says that that Scripture is fulfilled 鈥渢oday,鈥� in their midst.

Like a seed, when it is sown, grows from within, so the Kingdom of God grows 鈥渋n hiding,鈥� in the midst 鈥渙f us,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 repeated. Or it is like 鈥渢he gem, or the treasure,鈥� but always in humility:

鈥淏ut who makes that seed grow? Who makes it sprout? God, the Holy Spirit, who is within us. And the Holy Spirit is the spirit of meekness, the spirit of humility, He is the spirit of obedience, the spirit of simplicity. It is He who makes the Kingdom of God grow with, not pastoral plans, the great things鈥� No, it is the Spirit, in hiding. He makes it grow, and the moment arrives, and the fruit appears.鈥�

In the case of the good thief, the 杏MAP导航 asked when the seed of the Kingdom of God was sown in his heart. Perhaps it was his mother, 杏MAP导航 Francis suggested, or perhaps a rabbi when he was explaining the law. And then, perhaps, it is forgotten 鈥� but at a certain point 鈥渋n hiding,鈥� the Spirit makes it grow. What this means, the 杏MAP导航 said, is that the Kingdom of God is always 鈥渁 surprise,鈥� because it is 鈥渁 gift given by the Lord.鈥�

Jesus explains that 鈥渢he Kingdom of God does not come in such a way that it attracts attention, and no one will say, 鈥楲ook, there it is,鈥� or 鈥楲ook, here it is.鈥欌�� 鈥淚t is not a show, or, even worse, a carnival,鈥� he said, although often times we think of it that way.鈥�

鈥淭he Kingdom of God is not seen with haughtiness or pride; it does not love publicity. It is humble, hidden, and thus it grows. I think that when the people saw the Madonna, those who followed Jesus [said]: 鈥楾hat鈥檚 the mother, ah鈥︹�� The most holy woman, but in hiding. No one knew the mystery of the Kingdom of God, the holiness of the Kingdom of God. And when she was close by the Cross of her Son, the people said, 鈥楤ut the poor woman, with this criminal as a son, poor woman鈥︹�� Nothing, no one understood.鈥�

The Kingdom of God, then, always grows in hiding, the 杏MAP导航 said, because it is there, in our midst, that the Holy Spirit 鈥渕akes it sprout, until it bears fruit.鈥�

鈥淲e are all called to take this road of the kingdom of God: It is a vocation, it is a grace, it is a gift, it is given freely, it is not purchased, it is a grace that God gives us. And all we who are baptized have the Holy Spirit within [us]. How is my relationship with the Holy Spirit, Who makes the Kingdom of God grow within me? A good question for all of us to ask ourselves today. Do I believe this? Do I truly believe that the Kingdom of God is in the midst of us, it is hidden? Or do I like spectacle even more?鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his homily by asking the Holy Spirit for the grace to make 鈥渕ake the seed of the Kingdom of God鈥� grow in us and in the Church, with strength, 鈥渟o that it might become large, give refuge to many people, and give the fruits of sanctity.鈥�