杏MAP导航

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

鈥淭his is the road Jesus tells us to take鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said in his homily on Sunday, during Mass on the Second World Day of the Poor. That road takes us down to meet our brothers and sisters after we have spent time on the mountain in prayer with God. These words began the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 homily which he delivered in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica in front of 6,000 of Rome鈥檚 poor and those who assist them.

Jesus goes against the current

The Gospel 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on was that of Peter walking on the water during the storm on the lake (Matthew 14:22-33) on the Solemnity of the Dedication of St Peter鈥檚 Basilica. At the 鈥渉eight of his success鈥�, Jesus goes off alone up to the mountain to pray. He then goes down into the midst of the storm. Both of these actions, the 杏MAP导航 pointed out, go against the current: 鈥淗e leaves behind success, and then tranquility鈥�. Jesus鈥� followers are also called to follow the road Jesus 鈥渢ells us to take: go up to God and come down to our brothers and sisters鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said.

Jesus reassures

After leaving success and tranquillty behind, Jesus heads toward his disciples in the midst of the stormy sea. He wants to reassure them. The sea, the 杏MAP导航 said, is a symbol of evil on which Jesus tramples. 鈥淚t is a revelation of the reassuring certainty that Jesus, and Jesus alone, triumphs over our greatest enemies: the devil, sin, death and fear鈥�, he said. In the storms we experience it is not the storm itself that is the issue, but 鈥渉ow we are navigating life鈥�. 鈥淭he secret of navigating well", the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渋s to invite Jesus on board鈥�. Then the winds will die down and there can be no shipwrecks.

Jesus hears Peter鈥檚 cry

Connecting the Gospel with the World Day of the Poor, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that Peter鈥檚 cry for help is echoed in the poor, the unborn, the starving, the abandoned elderly, those who 鈥渇ace he storms of life鈥� without a friend, 鈥渢hose forced to flee their homes鈥�for an uncertain future鈥�, those deprived of the basics.

鈥淭he cry of the poor daily becomes stronger but heard less, drowned out by the din of the rich few, who grow ever fewer and more rich鈥�.

Jesus stretches out his hand

Jesus reaches out his hand to save Peter. That gesture shows us 鈥渨hy it is important for all of us to live our faith in contact with those in need鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis continued. Hands folded in indifference or frustration is an unacceptable response to evil for Christians, the 杏MAP导航 said. 鈥淣o.  As believers, we must stretch out our hands, as Jesus does with us.鈥� God hears the cry of the poor, but do we, the 杏MAP导航 asked.

Jesus gives gratuitously

Jesus asks us to give like he does, 鈥渇reely and not out of duty鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 concluded. He asks us to give to those who cannot pay us back. And so, 杏MAP导航 Francis prayed:

"Stretch out your hand to us, Lord, and take hold of us.  Help us to love as you love.  Teach us to leave behind all that is passing, to be a source of reassurance to those around us, and to give freely to all those in need.  Amen."