杏MAP导航 at Mass: Migrants are symbols of all those rejected by society
By Vatican News
He had been 杏MAP导航 for only 4 months when he made a surprise visit to Lampedusa. It was his first pastoral visit outside Rome. This tiny island, halfway between Sicily and the coast of North Africa, has become one of the main European points of entry for migrants and refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean.
It was on 8 July 2013, that 杏MAP导航 Francis spoke of the 鈥済lobalization of indifference鈥�. The result, he said on that occasion, is a society that 鈥渉as forgotten how to weep鈥�.
Mass for Migrants
杏MAP导航 Francis has recalled that visit to Lampedusa every year since then with a special Mass for migrants. Around 250 people attended the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Mass this year, celebrated at the Altar of the Chair in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica. Most of those present were migrants, refugees, and 鈥渢hose who are dedicated to saving their lives鈥�. They were all specially invited by the Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, responsible for organizing the event.
Jacob鈥檚 ladder
The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 homily focused on the First Reading from the Book of Genesis that describes how Jacob dreams of a ladder on which he sees angels ascending and descending. The ladder represents 鈥渢he connection between the human and the divine鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淚t is an allegory of the divine action that precedes all human activity... the antithesis of the Tower of Babel, built by men with their own strength鈥�. Faced with this revelation, continued the 杏MAP导航, Jacob puts his trust in the Lord, asking for protection 鈥渙n the difficult journey he must make鈥�.
Salvation and liberation
Turning to the words of the Psalm, 鈥淥 my God, I trust in you鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 stressed how the Lord is a refuge for those 鈥渨ho call on Him in times of tribulation鈥�, especially when we realize that 鈥渢he security of the world offers little worth, and only God remains鈥�. In the Gospel of Matthew, continued 杏MAP导航 Francis, Jesus offers 鈥渓iberation from sickness and death鈥�. He also reveals 鈥渢he need for a preferential option for the least鈥�, for the poor.
The least ones
鈥淥n this sixth anniversary of the visit to Lampedusa, my thoughts go out to those 鈥榣east ones鈥欌��, said the 杏MAP导航, those 鈥渨ho daily cry out to the Lord, asking to be freed from the evils that afflict them鈥�. 杏MAP导航 Francis then gave concrete examples of those he considers the 鈥渓east ones鈥�: those who are 鈥渁bandoned and cheated into dying in the desert鈥�; those who are 鈥渢ortured, abused and violated in detention camps鈥�; or 鈥渇ace the waves of an unforgiving sea鈥�; those who are 鈥渓eft in reception camps too long for them to be called temporary鈥�.
Not just about migrants
鈥淭his is not just about migrants鈥�, affirmed 杏MAP导航 Francis. 鈥淢igrants are first of all human persons鈥�, he said, 鈥渢hey are the symbol of all those rejected by today鈥檚 globalized society鈥�.
Returning to the image of Jacob鈥檚 ladder, the 杏MAP导航 said the 鈥渃onnection between earth and heaven is guaranteed and is accessible to all. Yet climbing the steps of this ladder requires commitment, effort and grace. The weakest and most vulnerable must be helped鈥�.
杏MAP导航 Francis concluded by saying he would like to think of us all as 鈥渢hose angels ascending and descending, taking under our wings鈥� the 鈥榣east ones鈥�, who would otherwise stay behind and experience only grinding poverty on earth, without glimpsing in this life anything of heaven鈥檚 brightness鈥�.
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