杏MAP导航

By Vatican News

In his Angelus on Sunday, 杏MAP导航 Francis examined two images used in the day鈥檚 Gospel: the mustard seed, and the attentive servant.

The parable of the mustard faith

In the first image, the Lord says that even faith 鈥渢he size of a mustard seed鈥� is able to uproot a mulberry tree and plant it in the sea. The 杏MAP导航 explained that Jesus wants us to understand that 鈥渘othing is impossible for those who have faith, because they do not rely on their own strength, but on God, who can do everything鈥�.

By comparing faith to the tiny mustard seed, Jesus shows that 鈥渇aith is not proud and self-confident, but in its humility, it feels a great need for God, and in its smallness, it abandons itself with total confidence to Him鈥�.

Service: the measure of faith

But 鈥渉ow can we know if we really have faith?鈥� the 杏MAP导航 asked. 鈥淛esus tells us by indicating that the measure of faith is service鈥�, using the parable of the unprofitable servant. This image, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, is a bit disconcerting at first glance, because of the way the master treats the servant 鈥� ordering him to prepare his meal immediately after the servant returns from working in the fields.

鈥淏ut this attitude of the master鈥�, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渉ighlights the true heart of the parable: namely, the attitude of availability of the servant鈥�. Jesus, he continued, 鈥渋ntends this to be how a person of faith should be in relation to God: completely surrendering to God鈥檚 will, without pretentions or expectations鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航 said that this attitude is also reflected in how we behave towards others, finding joy in serving, without expectation of recognition or even gratitude. The expression 鈥淲e are useless servants鈥�, recommended by Christ in the Gospel, 鈥渋s an expression of humility and willingness that does so much good to the Church, and reminds us of the right attitude to work in the Church: that of humble service.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his reflection with a prayer to the Virgin Mary, the 鈥渨oman of faith鈥�. 鈥淟et us turn to her on the vigil of the feast of the Madonna of the Rosary, in communion with the faithful gathered in Pompeii for the traditional Supplica 辫谤补测别谤鈥�.

[Please see accompanying article for the full text of the "Supplica", or "Petition", to the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii.]

Accompanying the Synod in prayer

Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father asked all the faithful to accompany the Synod for the Amazon in prayer, 鈥渟o that it might be lived in fraternal communion and in the docility to the Holy Spirit, which always shows the paths for the testimony of the Gospel鈥�.