杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis continued his catechesis series on the topic 鈥淗ealing the world鈥�, at the weekly General Audience.

After expressing his joy for the possibility of once again meeting with the faithful face-to-face - instead of 鈥渟creen-to-screen鈥� - the Holy Father noted how the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted our interdependence, 鈥渇or better or worse鈥�.

Solidarity, therefore, is the key to emerging from the crisis better than before, he said.

Dependence vs interdependence

All humanity, said the 杏MAP导航, has its common origin in God. We dwell together in our common home, 鈥渁 garden-planet where God has placed us鈥�, and we have a common destination in Christ.

鈥淏ut when we forget all this, our interdependence becomes dependence of some on others,鈥� he said, 鈥渋ncreasing inequality and marginalization; it weakens the social fabric and the environment deteriorates.鈥�

Solidarity is a mindset

杏MAP导航 Francis admitted that the word 鈥渟olidarity鈥� may seem a little worn and poorly understood.

Solidarity is more than 鈥渁 few sporadic acts of generosity.鈥� Rather, he said, solidarity involves creating a mindset which thinks 鈥渋n terms of community and the priority of life of all over the appropriation of goods by a few.鈥�

More than that, said the 杏MAP导航, solidarity 鈥渋s a matter of justice.鈥�

A healthy and fruitful interdependence 鈥渘eeds strong roots in the humanity and nature created by God; it needs respect for faces and for the land.鈥�

Threats to community

The 杏MAP导航 went on to reflect on the Biblical account of the tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9).

When humanity tries to reach to heaven while ignoring our relationship with each other, creation, and the Creator, we wind up unifying languages and constructing skyscrapers - but we 鈥渄estroy community鈥� and 鈥渕ortify cultural wealth鈥�.

Another unfortunate result, said the 杏MAP导航, is that we instrumentalize others as a workforce, rather than building up a community.

鈥淲hen shares fall in the financial markets, all the agencies report the news,鈥� he lamented. 鈥淭housands of people fall due to hunger and no-one talks about it.鈥�

Diversity and harmony

Pentecost, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, is the answer and antithesis of Babel.

Descending upon the community, 鈥渢he Spirit creates unity in diversity; He creates harmony.鈥�

鈥淲ith Pentecost,鈥� he said, 鈥淕od makes Himself present and inspires the faith of the community united in diversity and in solidarity.鈥�

Diversity ensures the community is imbued with 鈥渁ntibodies鈥� which remind the community that each person is unique, and protects it from the danger of individualism and selfishness.

鈥淪olidarity,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渋s the road to take towards a post-pandemic world, towards the healing of our interpersonal and social sicknesses. There is no other path.鈥�

Solidity and meaning in solidarity

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis encouraged everyone to let our solidarity be guided by faith, so that we might translate the love of God for our brother and sisters to build communities that promote healthy growth.

He also invited everyone to ask ourselves: 鈥淒o I think about others?鈥�

鈥淚n the midst of crises and tempests, the Lord calls to us and invites us to reawaken and activate this solidarity capable of giving solidity, support and meaning to these hours in which everything seems to be wrecked.鈥�