杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

杏MAP导航 Francis began his Sunday morning liturgy at the Casa Santa Marta by recalling those who are sick and suffering. Then he asked us all to pray with him especially 鈥渇or all those who are working to guarantee public services: those working in pharmacies, supermarkets, transportation, police officers鈥�so that social and civil life can go ahead鈥�.

His homily focused on the passage of the Samaritan Woman proposed for the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Lent.

Courage to own one鈥檚 truth

杏MAP导航 Francis characterized Jesus鈥� meeting with the Samaritan woman as a 鈥渄ialogue, an historical dialogue. It鈥檚 not a parable. It happened鈥�, he said. Jesus meets a woman, a sinner and 鈥渇or the first time in the Gospel, Jesus manifests His identity. He manifests it to a sinner who has the courage to tell Him the truth鈥�. And based on that truth, 鈥渟he went to proclaim Jesus. 鈥楥ome. Perhaps He鈥檚 the Messiah, because He told me everything that I have done鈥� 鈥�.

Salvation based on truth

The 杏MAP导航 went on to explain that it was not through the theoretical debate about whether God should be worshipped on this or that mountain that the woman discovers Jesus鈥檚 true identity. Rather, the woman discovers that He is the Messiah because 鈥渙f her truth鈥� which sanctifies and justifies her.

鈥淭hat's what the Lord uses 鈥� her truth 鈥� to proclaim the Gospel. One cannot be a disciple of Jesus without one's own truth.  鈥�This woman had the courage to dialogue with Jesus.  Because these two peoples did not dialogue with each other. She had the courage to interest herself in Jesus鈥檚 proposal, in that water, because she knew she was thirsty. She had the courage of confessing her weakness and her sins.

Truth leads to faith

Furthermore, the 杏MAP导航 continued, the Samaritan woman鈥檚 courage led her to 鈥渦se her own story as the guarantee that that that man was a prophet".

鈥淭he Lord always wants transparent dialogue without hiding things, without duplicitous intentions. Just as it is. I can speak with the Lord this way, just as I am with my own truth. Thus, from my own truth with the strength of the Holy Spirit, I will find the truth 鈥� that the Lord is the saviour, the One who came to save me and to save us.鈥�

Faith leads to proclamation

Because the dialogue between the Samaritan woman and Jesus was so transparent, the 杏MAP导航 said  she was then able to proclaim 鈥淛esus鈥� Messianic reality鈥� which brought 鈥渢he conversion of that people鈥�. It鈥檚 the time of the harvest鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 prayer

As is his custom, 杏MAP导航 Francis then concluded his homily with a prayer:

鈥淢ay the Lord grant us the grace of praying always in truth, to turn to the Lord with my own truth and not with the others鈥� truth, not with truth that's been distilled in debates鈥�. 鈥業t鈥檚 true, I鈥檝e had five husbands. This is my truth.鈥� 鈥�