杏MAP导航

By Vatican News staff writer

A crisis, such as the current pandemic, 鈥渃an prove beneficial to us all鈥�, if we make it an opportunity for conversion and renewed authenticity, by allowing ourselves to be led by the Spirit with courage and humility.  On the other hand, if the crisis is seen as a conflict, it will create discord, competition and enemies. 

杏MAP导航 Francis made the point on Monday, in his , the various departments of the Holy See and the central body in the Vatican.  In the traditional pre-Christmas meeting with them, he noted that in 鈥渃ontemplating the mystery of the Incarnation, before the child lying in a manger, but also the Paschal Mystery, in the presence of the Crucified One, we find our proper place only if we are defenceless, humble and unassuming鈥�. 

Lessons from pandemic and Christmas

In the 鈥淯rbi et Orbi鈥� Blessing and prayer service on March 27 in a deserted St. Peter's Square, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted that the coronavirus 鈥渉as exposed our vulnerability and uncovered those false and superfluous certainties鈥� and 鈥渦ncovered once more 鈥渙ur belonging to one another as brothers and sisters鈥�.

This is also stressed in Fratelli tutti, his Encyclical devoted to the theme of fraternity and social friendship.  One great lesson that we learn from Jesus鈥� birth, he said, is that Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi and all came together, in one way or another, in solidarity, fraternity and friendship.  Dreams, the 杏MAP导航 said, are not built in isolation but together, in a community, bringing the richness of our beliefs and convictions.

Crisis

The pandemic, the 杏MAP导航 noted, has been a time of trial and testing, but also a significant opportunity for conversion and renewed authenticity.  He explained that the Greek origin of the word 鈥渃risis鈥� - 鈥�krino鈥� - denotes 鈥渟ifting that separates the wheat from the chaff after the harvest鈥�.  In this regard, he recalled the Biblical figures, such as Abraham, Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul and even Jesus Himself, who were 鈥渟ifted鈥� by crisis and who showed that God never abandons us.

鈥淭his reflection on crisis warns us against judging the Church hastily on the basis of the crises caused by scandals past and present.鈥� The 杏MAP导航 noted that in the Curia, there are many people who with their discreet, unassuming, faithful, honest and professional work, are a living witness to the fact that the Lord has not abandoned his people.  鈥淭he only difference,鈥� he said, 鈥渋s that problems immediately end up in the newspapers, while signs of hope only make the news much later, if at all.鈥�  Hence, we must recover the courage and humility to admit that a time of crisis is a time of the Spirit, which should be seen in the light of the Gospel.

Conflict

In this regard, the Holy Father urged that one must not confuse crisis with conflict. 鈥淐risis generally has a positive outcome, whereas conflict always creates discord and competition, an apparently irreconcilable antagonism that separates others into friends to love and enemies to fight.  In such a situation, only one side can win.鈥�

Conflict, the 杏MAP导航 said, is a 鈥渇alse trail leading us astray, aimless, directionless and trapped in a labyrinth; it is a waste of energy and an occasion for evil鈥�.  鈥淭he first evil that conflict leads us to, and which we must try to avoid, is gossip, idle chatter, which traps us in an unpleasant, sad and stifling state of self-absorption.  It turns crisis into conflict.鈥�

Church in crisis, not in conflict

鈥淲hen the Church is viewed in terms of conflict 鈥� right versus left, progressive versus traditionalist 鈥� she becomes fragmented and polarized, distorting and betraying her true nature,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said.  A body in continual crisis because she is alive, she must never become a body in conflict, with winners and losers.  This would only 鈥渟pread apprehension, become more rigid and less synodal, and impose a uniformity far removed from the richness and plurality that the Spirit has bestowed on his Church鈥�.

Openness to the Spirit

The newness born of crisis and willed by the Spirit, the Pontiff said, is never a newness opposed to the old, but one that springs from the old and makes it continually fruitful.  Like a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, a crisis can be called both 鈥渄eath and decay鈥� and 鈥渂irth and blossoming鈥�, for the two are one.  In an end, a new beginning is taking shape. Hence by shielding ourselves from crisis, we hinder the work of God鈥檚 grace, which would manifest itself in us and through us 

Everything evil, wrong, weak and unhealthy that comes to light, the 杏MAP导航 said, serves as a forceful reminder of our need to die to a way of living, thinking and acting that does not reflect the Gospel.  Only by dying to a certain mentality will we be able to make room for the newness that the Spirit constantly awakens in the heart of the Church.  

Every crisis, he pointed out, contains a rightful demand for renewal and the courage to be completely open.  鈥淲e need to stop seeing the reform of the Church as putting a patch on an old garment, or simply drafting a new Apostolic Constitution.鈥�  鈥淲e are not called to change or reform the Body of Christ鈥�, as Jesus is the 鈥渟ame yesterday, today and forever鈥�, 鈥渂ut we are called to clothe that Body with a new garment so that it is clear that the grace we possess does not come from ourselves but from God.鈥�  

Hence, the 杏MAP导航 noted that a crisis is a time of grace granted us to discern God鈥檚 will for each of us and for the whole Church.  It is essential not to interrupt our dialogue with God, however difficult this may prove.  And in this, the 杏MAP导航 said, prayer will allow us to 鈥渉ope against all hope鈥�.