杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

杏MAP导航 Francis chose three words from the biblical texts proclaimed during Saturday鈥檚 liturgy and expanded on them in his homily. These words are: prayer, littleness, and wisdom.

Prayer

The Gospel text from Matthew 11:25 presents Jesus praying. 鈥淚 praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis describes his prayer as one that flowed spontaneously and was not optional. The Lord regularly went off by himself in solitary places to pray because 鈥渄ialogue with the Father was a priority.鈥�

Jesus鈥� disciples asked the Lord to teach them how to pray (Lk 11:1) because they saw that his prayer was natural and important for him. The 杏MAP导航 tells us, 鈥淚f we want to imitate Jesus, we can also begin  where he began, that is, from prayer.鈥�

This leads the 杏MAP导航 to ask a question: 鈥淒o we Christians pray enough?鈥� Instead of making so many excuses and forgetting 鈥渢he better part鈥� (Lk 10:42), we should remember that without the Lord we can do nothing (cf Jn 15:5). 杏MAP导航 Francis reminds us that Padre Pio used to recommend: 鈥淧ray often, my children, pray always, never get tired of praying鈥� (words from the Second International Congress of the Prayer Groups, 5 May 1966).

Jesus Teaches us how to Pray

Jesus 鈥渄oes not say 鈥業 need this and that,鈥� but 鈥業 praise you.鈥� The Father cannot be known unless we open ourselves to praise, unless time is dedicated to him alone, unless we adore.鈥� In personal contact, in silence before the Lord, we can enter into communion with him, 杏MAP导航 Francis explains.

Prayer can begin with a request, but needs to move to praise, to adoration, to remaining with God in order to bring the world to him. 杏MAP导航 Francis asks us who will entrust people to the Lord unless we do? This is why Padre Pio founded the prayer groups to whom he said, 鈥淚t is prayer, this united strength of all good souls, that moves the world, that renews consciences 鈥� that heals the sick, that sanctifies labor, that elevates health care, that gives moral strength鈥� that spreads the smile and blessing of God on the fainthearted and the weak鈥� (words from the Second International Congress of the Prayer Groups, 5 May, 1966).

Littleness

It is those who are little, whose hearts are humble, open, poor and needy who feel the need to pray, 杏MAP导航 Francis says, moving on to the second word. 鈥淭he heart of these little ones is like an antenna that captures God鈥檚 signal.鈥� Referring to the Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza (the House for the Relief of Suffering), Padre Pio used to call it the 鈥渢emple of prayer and science,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis says. He continued saying that 鈥淛esus is found in those who are sick. And the loving care of those who bend over the wounds of their neighbor is the way of encountering him.鈥�

Wisdom

The third word, wisdom, comes from the first reading taken from Jeremiah 9,22: 鈥淟et not the wise boast of his wisdom, nor the strong boast of his strength.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis explains that 鈥淐harity animated by faith is the only wise and invincible arm because it has the power of disarming the strength of those who do evil.鈥� Like Jesus, Padre Pio battled wisely against evil his entire life鈥斺�渉umbly, obediently, with the cross, offering the pain out of love.鈥� Everyone knows this and admires Padre Pio for this, 杏MAP导航 Francis says, but how many imitate him in this way? 鈥淢any people are ready to click 鈥榣ike鈥� on the pages of the great saints, but who does what they do? Because the Christian life is not an 鈥業 like,鈥� but an 鈥業 give.鈥� 鈥�

Padre Pio decided to give himself to others especially as a Confessor. It is in the Sacrament of Reconciliation that we 鈥渂egin to live a wise life 鈥� that is where the healing of the heart begins,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis says. And it is to this Sacrament that Padre Pio invites us to return today. 鈥淲here are you going?鈥� Padre Pio asks. 鈥淭o Jesus or to your own sadness? Where are you going back to? To him who saves you or to your own dejection, your own regrets, your own sins? Come, the Lord is waiting for you. Take courage, there is no reason, no matter how grave, that would exclude you from his mercy鈥� (Padre Pio quoted by 杏MAP导航 Francis).