杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� prayer intention for Wednesday鈥檚 Mass at the Casa Santa Marta was 鈥渇or all who work in the media, who work to communicate鈥�. They are working, he said, 鈥渟o that people are not so isolated; for the education of children, to help us to bear this time of isolation鈥�.

In his homily, the Holy Father focused on the struggle between Jesus and the Doctors of the Law over His identity. Jesus, he said, ultimately backs them into a corner, and they resort to insults and blasphemy.

Remaining in Jesus

But for those who believe in Him, Jesus says, 鈥淚f you remain in my Word you will indeed be my disciples鈥� (Jn 8:31). The word 鈥渞emain鈥� is an important one. Jesus repeats often, including at the Last Supper. 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that the Lord does not emphasize studying and learning: Jesus takes that for granted. Instead, the 杏MAP导航 said the most important thing is 鈥渞emaining鈥� in Jesus and in His Word.

The identity of a Christian

Returning to a familiar image, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that being a Christian is not a matter of having some kind of identification, an identity card that says, 鈥淚 am Christian鈥�. Christian identity is discipleship. 鈥淚f you remain in the Lord, in the Word of the Lord, in the life of the Lord, you will be a disciple鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 said. If, on the other hand, you do not remain in Him, you can appreciate doctrine, and follow Jesus as a good and charitable man, but you will not be a disciple.

Discipleship makes us free

And it is precisely Christian discipleship that makes us free, the 杏MAP导航 said. 鈥淭he disciple is someone who is free because they remain in the Lord鈥�. But what does this mean? 杏MAP导航 Francis explained that being a disciple means allowing oneself to be guided by the Holy Spirit. 鈥淭hat is why the disciple is always a person of tradition and of novelty, a free person鈥� never subject to ideologies, to doctrines within the Christian life, doctrines that can be discussed. That person remains in the Lord, it is the Spirit who inspires them.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his homily by asking that the Lord might help us 鈥渢o understand this wisdom of remaining in Him, and help us to understand familiarity with the Spirit: the Holy Spirit gives us freedom鈥�. This, said the 杏MAP导航, is an anointing, 鈥渁nd discipleship is an anointing. Those who remain in the Lord receive it鈥�.