杏MAP导航

By Lydia O’Kane

Holy Mass for the 2nd Sunday of the Word of God was celebrated by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation, standing in for 杏MAP导航 Francis who is suffering from a painful attack of sciatica.

In his homily, which was read by Archbishop Fisichella, 杏MAP导航 Francis focused his attention on what Jesus says and to whom He says it, as He proclaims the Kingdom of God.

What Jesus says

The 杏MAP导航 noted how Jesus begins his preaching with the words: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand."

He went on to say that the first message to be taken from this is that “God is near and His kingdom has come down to earth.”

 “The time of His distance ended when, in Jesus, He became man," said the 杏MAP导航.

God is near

He stressed that, “Before all else, we must believe and proclaim that God has drawn near to us, that we have been forgiven and shown mercy.”  

God's word, said 杏MAP导航 Francis, continues to tell us "Do not be afraid, I am with you.  I am at your side and I will always be there."

“In speaking to us,” the 杏MAP导航 said, the Lord “reminds us that he has taken us to heart, that we are precious in His eyes, and that He holds us in the palm of His hand.”  

“God’s word is one of consolation but also a call to conversion,” said 杏MAP导航 Francis. “‘Repent’, says Jesus, immediately after proclaiming God’s closeness.”

Those who hear God’s word, 杏MAP导航 Francis highlighted, “are constantly reminded that life is not about shielding ourselves from others, but about encountering them in the name of God who is near.”

No one is far from God’s heart  

Turning his attention to whom Jesus speaks, the 杏MAP导航 noted that His first words are to Galilean fishermen, who he described as “simple folk.”

杏MAP导航 Francis pointed out that Jesus began with people “not from the centre but from the periphery, and He did so in order to tell us too that no one is far from God’s heart.”

Noting the “particular power” the word of God has, the 杏MAP导航 emphasized how it can “touch each person directly.”  

“The disciples would never forget the words they heard that day on the shore of the lake, by their boats, in the company of their family members and fellow workers: words that marked their lives forever.”  Jesus said to them: 'Follow me, I will make you become fishers of men.'”

“He did not appeal to them using lofty words and ideas,” said 杏MAP导航 Francis, but spoke to their lives and told them they were to be “fishers of men.” 

The 杏MAP导航 explained that Jesus spoke to them “in terms of their own livelihood.”

And he went on to say that Jesus does the same with us; looking for us where we are and walking by our side.

Make room for God’s Word

In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged everyone “not ignore God’s word. It is a love letter, written to us by the One who knows us best."

He also urged the faithful to carry it with them always and give it “a worthy place in our homes.”

To be able to focus on God’s word, the 杏MAP导航 prayed that we would also be given the strength “to turn off the television and open the Bible, to turn off our cell phone and open the Gospel.”