杏MAP导航 at Mass: Thank you to those who pray for people in difficulty
By Vatican News
杏MAP导航 Francis began his homily on Friday morning by noting that the difficult times we are facing have inspired in many people a more general concern for others: for families that don鈥檛 have enough to get by, for the elderly who are alone, for the sick in hospitals. They are praying for others, 鈥渢hat help might somehow arrive鈥�.
鈥淭his is a good sign鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渁nd we thank the Lord, who is arousing these sentiments in the hearts of the faithful鈥�.
The fury of the wicked against Jesus
In his reflections on the day鈥檚 readings, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that the first reading, from the book of Wisdom, reads almost like a news report about what will happen to Jesus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost an historical account of what will happen later鈥�, he said. It tells how 鈥渢he wicked鈥� are obsessed with Jesus because He reproves them for their evil way of life; and so they plan to test Him 鈥渨ith revilement and torture鈥�, and ultimately 鈥渃ondemn Him to a shameful death鈥�.
Diabolic hatred
鈥淭his is not simple hatred鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said, but a kind of 鈥渞elentless fury鈥� that is inspired by the devil. As he did with Job, the devil tries to separate people from God, 鈥渢o destroy the work of God鈥�. This type of fierce determination to destroy others comes 鈥渇rom the devil鈥�. It can be seen not only in how the devil attacked Jesus, but also in the persecution of Christians. The devil, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, uses 鈥渢he most sophisticated means to lead [Christians] to apostasy, to lead them away from God鈥� 鈥� and this is literally 鈥渄iabolic鈥�.
Silence in the face of 鈥渢he spirit of fury鈥�
How should we respond to such ferocious determination, the 杏MAP导航 asked? He said there are only two appropriate ways to react: to dialogue, or to remain silent. We should do what Jesus did: In the Gospels, we see that Jesus spoke out, but when He knew that words would do not any good, He was silent. In the face of 鈥渢he spirit of fury鈥�, Jesus remained silent, the 杏MAP导航 emphasized, and in silence, He underwent His Passion.
The courage to remain silent
Silence, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, is also the appropriate response to the 鈥渓ittle acts of fury鈥� that we face each day, such as gossip. Chattering about people behind their back, gossiping about them, is a kind of 鈥渟ocial harassment", not as strong as persecution, perhaps, but nonetheless a kind of fury, because it destroys others.
鈥淟et us ask the Lord for the grace to fight against the evil spirit鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said in conclusion, 鈥渢o dialogue when we need to dialogue, but, in the face of the spirit of fury, to have the courage to remain silent, and allow others to speak鈥�.
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