杏MAP导航

By Robin Gomes

杏MAP导航 Francis on Thursday held up the plea of Mary at the marriage feast of Cana - ?“They have no wine” ?- and called on Chileans to be attentive to the needs of the oppressed, the exploited and the dispossessed and ensure they don’t “miss the joy of the party”.&苍产蝉辫;

杏MAP导航 Francis made the exhortation in his homily at a Mass for the integration of peoples celebrated in honour of Our Lady of Carmel, Mother and Queen of Chile, at Campus Lobito in the northern city of Iquique.  

Party at Cana – contagious joy

Holding out the episode of the “party” at Cana, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that the “Gospel is a constant invitation to joy” as it happened with Mary at the Annunciation, the shepherds, Elizabeth and the good thief.  “The Gospel message is a wellspring of joy,” the 杏MAP导航 said. 

The people of northern Chile, the 杏MAP导航 noted, are no stranger to this “contagious” joy of the Gospel, which is visible in their  patron’s feasts, religious dances, popular pieties, singing, dancing and music which “turn the whole town into a party”.&苍产蝉辫;

“They have no wine”

The 杏MAP导航 said that the Gospel shows how Mary, when she notices something that could “water down” the joy of the party, simply approaches Jesus and tells Him: “They have no wine”.&苍产蝉辫; The 杏MAP导航 said Mary continues to do so “through our towns, our streets, our squares, our homes and our hospitals.

The 杏MAP导航 further explained that at Cana, Mary makes Jesus’ friends feel that they too are part of the miracle.  “Do whatever he tells you”, she says.  The 杏MAP导航 said, “each one of us is invited to be part of the miracle for others.”

Lend a hand

Noting that Iquique is a region of immigrants, where people and families arrive in search of life, the 杏MAP导航 urged its inhabitants to ensure that it also continues to be a land of hospitality.  “There is no Christian joy when doors are closed,” the 杏MAP导航 said. “There is no Christian joy when others are made to feel unwanted, when there is no room for them in our midst.”

The Holy Father urged them to raise their voice with Mary saying, “They have no wine”, and  be “attentive to all situations of injustice and to new forms of exploitation that risk making so many of our brothers and sisters miss the joy of the party.”

Like the servants at the party, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, let us offer what have, and “not be afraid to ‘lend a hand’”.&苍产蝉辫;