杏MAP导航 to Cardinals: May wonder, gratitude be ever alive in our hearts
By Thaddeus Jones
杏MAP导航 Francis presided over the Mass with the new Cardinals and College of Cardinals in St. Peter's Basilica early Tuesday evening.
The celebration followed Saturday's Consistory for the creation of new Cardinals and two days of meetings of all the Cardinals to discuss , the new Apostolic Constitution of the Roman Curia.
The Mass took place three days after the Consistory given Sunday's pastoral visit of 杏MAP导航 Francis to the Italian city of L'Aquila and the Monday and Tuesday meetings with the Cardinals. Some 190 Cardinals, as well as Eastern Patriarchs and Superiors of the Secretariat of State, participated in the two days of discussion and reflection.
Wonder that inspires and animates
In his homily, 杏MAP导航 Francis reflected on the theme of "wonder" as described in the readings proclaimed during the celebrations: the wonder of St. Paul before God's saving plan and the wonder of the disciples encountering the risen Jesus who called on them to "make disciples of all nations."
He said here we can appreciate how the Holy Spirit guides and moves us forward to proclaim the Gospel and "to all the peoples the wonders of the Lord."
The 杏MAP导航 observed that just as we often marvel at the greatness of the universe, so we are also "full of wonder as we consider the history of salvation," as "all things find their origin, existence, end and purpose in Christ."
God's call to participate
While we marvel at God's plan of salvation, we can also be further amazed that "God calls us to share in this plan," the 杏MAP导航 pointed out, as we see in the mission given to the apostles by the risen Christ to “Go… make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).
The Lord reassures the disciples telling them “I am with you always, to the end of the age," and this promise "inspires hope and conslation", said the 杏MAP导航. These words and this mandate are given to us today, he added, thrilling our hearts even after two thousand years gone by. We are further amazed how the divine decision to evangelize the world started with a "ragtag group of disciples," some who still had doubts, but the 杏MAP导航 said that gives hope for ourselves as well.
The 杏MAP导航 said we must avoid a false sense of security thinking that today everything is different and all set, or we risk falling into the "deception, whereby the Father of Lies seeks to make Christ’s followers first worldly, then innocuous."
Wonder and gratitude at being Church
The sense of wonder we experience through the Word of God also awakens in us "wonder at being in the Church, of being Church," the 杏MAP导航 added, saying the awareness of being blessed in Christ and bearing witness to Him helps strengthens the community of believers and makes them attractive to others.
The 杏MAP导航 said we rejoice as well in gratitude for these gifts, all the baptized. He recalled Saint Paul VI who offered his legacy of "love for the Church, a love which is first and foremost gratitude, grateful wonder at her mystery and at the gift of our being not only members of the Church, but involved in her life, sharing in and, indeed, jointly responsible for her."
In conclusion, the 杏MAP导航 offered the basics of what it means to be a minister of the Church: "one who experiences wonder before God’s plan, and, in that spirit, passionately loves the Church and stands at the service of her mission wherever and however the Holy Spirit may choose."
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