杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

The path to peace in the world, in our societies and also in our families is that of humility, gentleness, and patience. This was the heart of the message of 杏MAP导航 Francis in his homily at Mass Friday morning at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican.

He was reflecting on the day鈥檚 First Reading, where St. Paul from the solitude of his imprisonment was writing to the Ephesians a true "hymn to unity", recalling the "dignity of vocation".

Difficulty in making peace

The 杏MAP导航 observed that Paul鈥檚 solitude would accompany him until his death in Rome, because Christians were 鈥渢oo busy鈥� in their "internal struggles".   And before Paul, he said, Jesus Himself  鈥渁sked for the grace of unity from the Father for all of us.鈥�

Yet, the 杏MAP导航 noted, today we are "used to breathing the air of conflict".  Every day, on the TV and in newspapers, we hear about conflicts and wars "one after the other", "without peace, without unity鈥�.   Agreements made to stop conflicts, he said, are ignored, thus the arms race and preparation for war and destruction go ahead.

The 杏MAP导航 noted that even world institutions created with the best of intentions for peace and unity, fail to come to an agreement because of a veto here and an interest there ...  While they are struggling to arrive at peace agreements, children have no food, no school, no education and hospitals because the war has destroyed everything.  

The Holy Father noted there is a tendency to destruction, war and disunity in us. It is the tendency that the devil, the enemy and destroyer of humanity sows in our hearts.  Referring to Paul the 杏MAP导航 said the Apostle teaches us that the journey of unity is, so to say, clad or 鈥渁rmoured' with the bond of peace.  Peace, he said, leads to unity.

Opening hearts

The 杏MAP导航 then encouraged all to adopt a behaviour that is worthy of "the call" that is received, "with all humility, gentleness and patience鈥�.

The Holy Father said that we who are used to insulting and shouting at each other, need to make peace and unity among us with gentleness and patience ".   

The 杏MAP导航 urged Christians to open their hearts and make peace in the world taking the path of the 鈥渢hree little things鈥�  - "humility, gentleness and patience".  He drew attention to the practical advice of Paul to 鈥渂ear with one another in love".  The Holy Father acknowledged it鈥檚 easy not as there is always a judgement, a condemnation which leads to separation and distances鈥�

Agreement at the start

The 杏MAP导航 also pointed out that when a rift is created between members of the family, the devil is happy with the start of war .  The advice is then to bear with one another because we always have an excuse to be annoyed and impatient because we are all sinners with defects.  St. Paul, inspired by Jesus at the Last Supper who urged for 鈥渙ne body and one spirit鈥�,  thus urges us to 鈥減reserve the unity of spirit through the bond of peace".

The next step, the 杏MAP导航 said is to see the horizon of peace with God, just as Jesus made us see the horizon of peace with prayer:  鈥淔ather, may they be one, as You and I are one'.  The 杏MAP导航 recalled the day鈥檚 Gospel of Luke where Jesus advises us to strike an agreement with our adversary along the way.  The 杏MAP导航 said it鈥檚 good advice, because "it is not difficult to come to an agreement at the beginning of a conflict".

The 杏MAP导航 said the advice of Jesus is to settle the matter and make peace at the beginning, which calls for humility, gentleness and patience.  One can build peace throughout the world with these little things, which are the attitudes of Jesus who is humble, meek and forgives everything.  

The 杏MAP导航 said that today we, the world, our families and our society need peace.  He invited Christians to start putting into practice humility, gentleness and patience saying this is the path to making peace and consolidating unity.