杏MAP导航

By Lydia O鈥橩ane

, 杏MAP导航 Francis underlined that the preaching of the Gospel 鈥渋s always linked to the embrace of some particular cross.鈥� 

The Gospel and the Cross

He explained that the Gospel shows us the extent to which 鈥減ersecution and the cross are linked to the proclamation of the Gospel.鈥�

Dwelling on the "hours" leading to Christ鈥檚 Passion and Death, 杏MAP导航 Francis said 鈥渢he hour of joyful proclamation, the hour of persecution and the hour of the Cross go together.鈥�

 鈥淭he gentle light of God鈥檚 word shines brightly in well-disposed hearts,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渂ut awakens confusion and rejection in those that are not. We see this over and over again in the Gospels.鈥�

Giving some examples, 杏MAP导航 Francis spoke of the good seed sown in the field that bears fruit, but it also arouses the envy of the enemy.

鈥淭he tender love of the merciful father irresistibly draws the prodigal son home, but also leads to anger and resentment on the part of the elder son," he noted.

鈥淎ll this enables us to see that the preaching of the Good News is mysteriously linked to persecution and the cross,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis.

杏MAP导航 Francis at Chrism Mass

Cross is non-negotiable

Focusing on two trains of  thought, the 杏MAP导航 said that first 鈥渨e are taken aback to see the cross present in the Lord鈥檚 life at the very beginning of his ministry, even before His birth.鈥�

鈥淎ll this makes us realize that the mystery of the cross is present 鈥榝rom the beginning鈥�.鈥�   鈥淭he cross does not appear by chance,鈥� he said.

When his hour came, explained 杏MAP导航 Francis, Jesus embraced the cross fully.  鈥淔or on the cross there can be no ambiguity. The cross is non-negotiable.鈥�

Dwelling on his second point, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥淭here is an aspect of the cross that is an integral part of our human condition, our limits and our frailty. Yet it is also true that something happens on the Cross that does not have to do with our human weakness but is the bite of the serpent, who, seeing the crucified Lord defenceless, bites Him in an attempt to poison and undo all His work鈥�  It is the venom of the evil one who keeps insisting: save yourself.鈥�

It is in this harsh and painful 鈥渂ite鈥� that seeks to bring death, that God鈥檚 triumph is ultimately seen, said 杏MAP导航 Francis. 

The 杏MAP导航 went on to say that 鈥渢hanks to the reconciling blood of Jesus, it is a cross that contains the power of Christ鈥檚 victory, which conquers evil and delivers us from the evil one.鈥� 

杏MAP导航 Francis at Chrism Mass

Sufferings of Christ in us

杏MAP导航 Francis underlined that we as Christians are 鈥渘ot among those who shrink back.鈥�

鈥淲e are not scandalized, because Jesus Himself was not scandalized by seeing that His joyful preaching of salvation to the poor was not received wholeheartedly, but amid the shouts and threats of those who refused to hear His word.鈥�

鈥淭he way we embrace the cross in our preaching of the Gospel makes two things clear,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said:  鈥淭hat the sufferings that come from the Gospel are not ours, but rather 鈥榯he sufferings of Christ in us鈥� and that 鈥榳e do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as servants of all for the love of Jesus鈥欌��.

杏MAP导航 Francis at Chrism Mass

God鈥檚 divine grace

Concluding his homily with a story from his past, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled how, during a dark moment in his life, he asked the Lord for the grace to free him from a difficult and complex situation. 

During Confession he asked an elderly Sister, whose eyes were 鈥渇ull of light鈥�  to pray for him as her penance because he needed a particular grace.

She replied by saying 鈥楾he Lord will certainly give you that grace, but make no mistake about it: He will give it to you in His own divine way鈥�. 

The 杏MAP导航 said that this advice did him much good, 鈥渉earing that the Lord always gives us what we ask for, but that He does so in his divine way. That way involves the cross. Not for masochism.  But for love, love to the very end.鈥�