杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis took his cue from the day鈥檚 Gospel according to Mark, which indicates 鈥渁 day in the life of Jesus鈥�.

The two healing stories recounted by Mark need 鈥渢o be contemplated more than reflected upon鈥�, he said, since they are a model for shepherd, bishops, and priests.

Be with the people and care for them

The Evangelist describes Jesus as being surrounded by a large crowd on the seashore. 杏MAP导航 Francis said Jesus is shown caring for the people, exactly in the manner God had promised, that is, 鈥渂eing in their midst鈥�.

鈥淛esus did not open an office for spiritual counseling with a sign reading: 鈥楾he prophet receives on Monday and Friday from 3:00 until 6:00 PM. Entry costs this much, or if you prefer, you can make an offering.鈥� No, Jesus does not do that. He doesn鈥檛 even open a medical office with a sign reading: 鈥楾he sick may come on such-and-such day, and they will be healed鈥�. Jesus throws himself in the midst of the people.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis said this is 鈥渢he example of a shepherd that Jesus gives us鈥�.

He also told a story about a holy priest who accompanied his people. The 杏MAP导航 said this man was tired in the evenings but that it was a 鈥渞eal tiredness鈥� of 鈥渙ne who truly works鈥� with people.

Confront difficulties with tenderness

The Holy Father said the Gospel also describes Jesus as being 鈥減ressed upon鈥� by the crowd. He said this Greek verb (蟽蠀谓苇胃位喂尾慰谓) occurs five times in Mark鈥檚 Gospel, underlining how people do the same today during pastoral visits so as to 鈥済rab grace鈥�.

Jesus, he said, never retreats from this closeness but even pays for his good actions with 鈥渟hame and mockery鈥�. These are the 鈥渙utlines of Jesus鈥� way of acting鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, and therefore show 鈥渢he attitude of a true shepherd鈥�.

鈥淭he shepherd is anointed with oil on the day of his ordination: both priests and bishops. But the true oil 鈥� the interior oil 鈥� is the oil of closeness and tenderness. The shepherd who doesn鈥檛 know how to get close [to people] is lacking something. He may be a master in the field, but he is no shepherd. A shepherd who lacks tenderness will be rigid, beating the sheep. Closeness and tenderness are seen here. That鈥檚 how Jesus was.鈥�

Closeness and tenderness of the shepherd to be asked of the Lord

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to say that the shepherd, like Jesus, 鈥渆nds his day tired鈥�, tired from doing good. If this is his attitude, he said, the people will feel the presence of the living God.

This became the Holy Father鈥檚 prayer for the day.

鈥淭oday we could pray during this Mass for our shepherds, that the Lord give them the grace to walk with the people and to be present for them with much tenderness and closeness. When the people finds its shepherd, they feel that special sensation only felt in the presence of God, as today鈥檚 Gospel ends: 鈥渢hey were utterly astounded.鈥� This amazement [comes from] feeling the closeness and the tenderness of God in the shepherd.鈥�