杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

In his homily during the Chrism Mass, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that the Gospels often show Jesus in the midst of a crowd, beginning with the shepherds, kings, 鈥渁nd elderly dreamers鈥� at the Nativity, to the 鈥淰eronicas鈥� of this world, the 鈥淐yreneans, thieves, and centurions鈥� that surrounded Him on the Cross.

The Lord, he continued, 鈥渘ever lost that direct contact with the people鈥�. Although some might hear the word 鈥渃rowd鈥� and think of a 鈥渇aceless, nameless throng鈥�, in the Gospel, 鈥渨e see that when the crowd interacts with Jesus鈥� it is transformed, it is personalized.

Three graces

杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on the grace of following Jesus, seen when the crowds looked for Him, and travelled with Him, waiting to hear what he had to say. In contrast, the 杏MAP导航 said the attitude of the Apostles 鈥� who wanted to send the people away 鈥� sometimes verged on 鈥渃ruelty鈥�. 鈥淗ere, I believe, was the beginning of clericalism鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.

Jesus鈥� relationship with the people was also marked by the grace of amazement: the amazement of the people who saw Jesus; and Jesus鈥� amazement at the faith of the people.

Finally, the 杏MAP导航 said, the people received the grace of discernment, the ability to recognize in Jesus 鈥渙ne who taught with authority鈥�. They recognized in Jesus the ability to touch their hearts, and the power to cast out demons.

Looking deeper into the Gospel view of 鈥渢he crowd鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis points to four large groups, the 鈥減referred beneficiaries鈥� of Jesus鈥� anointing: the poor, the blind, the oppressed, and the captives.

When priests anoint, 鈥渨e are anointed anew鈥�

Speaking to the priests gathered for the Mass 鈥� which focuses especially on priestly unity 鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥淲e [priests] must not forget that our evangelical models are those 鈥榩eople鈥�, the 鈥榗rowd鈥�, with its real faces, which the anointing of the Lord raises up and revives鈥�. 鈥淭hey are an image of our soul, and an image of the Church鈥�, he said. 鈥淓ach of them incarnates the one heart of our people.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 鈥渃onfessed鈥� to the priests that when he anoints people, he is always generous with the oil: 鈥淚n that generous anointing, we can sense that our own anointing is being renewed鈥�. Priests 鈥渁re not distributors of bottled oil鈥�, he said. Rather, 鈥淲e [priests] anoint by distributing ourselves, distributing our vocation and our heart. When we anoint other, we ourselves are anointed anew by the faith and affection of our people鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his homily with the prayer that the Father might 鈥渞enew deep within us the spirit of holiness鈥�, that He might 鈥済rant that we may be one in imploring mercy for the people entrusted to our care, and for all the world鈥�.