杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

Officials of the Roman Curia met with 杏MAP导航 Francis on Thursday for the annual exchange of Christmas greetings.

The 杏MAP导航 said the audience offers a yearly opportunity to 鈥渆xpress our fraternity 鈥榦ut loud鈥欌�� and to reflect on the identity and mission of the Church鈥檚 central governing body.

Humility formed the focus of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 speech, since the King of kings entered the world through precisely that door.

Lepers in need of healing

杏MAP导航 Francis took the Biblical account of Naaman the Syrian, a military general and leper who sought healing from the prophet Elisha (2 Kgs 5), as an example for a person who covered their disease with bravery and honors.

The 杏MAP导航 said there comes a time in every person鈥檚 life when we must set aside the 鈥渨orld鈥檚 glory for the fullness of an authentic life.鈥�

When Elisha offered Naaman a simple solution to his problem鈥攕tripping off his armour and bathing in the River Jordan鈥攖he general hesitates at first, before relenting and descending in humility to find healing.

Humility embraces humanity

杏MAP导航 Francis then warned against the temptation of 鈥渟piritual worldliness鈥� which sets aside humility in favor of 鈥渙ur role, the liturgy, doctrine, and religious devotion.鈥� This leads to vainglory where we dream of glorious undertakings yet spend no time on service or our true mission.

Humility, on the other hand, means 鈥渋nhabiting鈥� our humanity with 鈥渞ealism, joy, and hope鈥�, while looking on our poverty with the love and tenderness of Jesus.

Pride, as the opposite of humility, burns both our link to the past and our growth in the present and future, leaving us only as barren trunks who neither remember nor are able to give life.

Style of synodality

The 杏MAP导航 went on to note that everyone is called to humility, in the footsteps of Jesus, so as to encounter God, find salvation, and embrace our brothers and sisters.

He recalled the opening of the synodal journey in October, calling the Roman Curia to embrace the conversion toward the 鈥渟tyle of synodality鈥� and lead the Church as a witness. Poverty and simplicity of lifestyle, he said, are concrete ways the Curia can lead along the path of humility.

杏MAP导航 Francis recalled his opening speech of the Synod and the three ways he offered to concretize humility.

鈥淧articipation鈥� expressed through co-responsibility, he said, leaves space for creativity to emerge within various Vatican offices. 鈥淎uthority becomes service when it shares, involves and helps people to grow.鈥�

鈥淐ommunion鈥� allows us to put Christ back in the centre, encourages healthy working environments, and overcomes the urge to create factions and climb the corporate ladder. 鈥淎n attitude of service requires, and indeed demands, a good and generous heart, in order to recognize and experience with joy the manifold richness present in the People of God.鈥�

鈥淢ission鈥� opens our hearts to embrace Jesus鈥� 鈥減assion for the poor鈥� and those who languish in material or spiritual need. 鈥淭he Church also reaches out to the poor because we need them: we need their voice, their presence, their questions and criticisms.鈥�

Humility: condition for faith

杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his address expressing his hopes that the Roman Curia might embrace the 鈥渉umility of Christmas and the manger, by the poverty and simplicity with which the Son of God entered into the world.鈥�

As Jesus descended鈥攂oth in his birth and in his washing of the disciples鈥� feet at the Last Supper鈥攕o are members of the Curia called to recall their own leprosy and need for healing and humility.