杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

The beauty of Singapore, the 鈥済reat and bold architecture鈥� that make the city 鈥渟o famous and fascinating鈥�, was the starting point for 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� homily at Mass on Thursday, as he reflected on St Paul鈥檚 words, 鈥淜nowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up鈥�.

Love is the foundation of great works

The Holy Father insisted it is love, not primarily 鈥渕oney, techniques, or even engineering ability鈥�, that is at the foundation of the great works people accomplish.

Acknowledging that some might consider such a statement naïve, he said, a little reflection can show that great works, although inspired by creativity and genius, nonetheless rely on countless 鈥渇ragile men and women鈥� motivated by love, without which 鈥渢here is no love, no impetus, no reason to act, no strength to build鈥�.

God, the foundation of our capacity to love

This conviction, he continued, is 鈥渃onfirmed and enlightened鈥� by faith, which teaches that God, our common Father, 鈥渋s at the root of our capacity to love and to be loved鈥�.

God created each of us freely and out of love; and it is God鈥檚 love that redeems us and frees us 鈥渇rom sin and death through the death and resurrection of His only Son鈥�.

So, the 杏MAP导航 said, quoting his predecessor, St John Paul II, 鈥渋n our own love we see a reflection of God鈥檚 love鈥� love that is characterized by a deep respect for all people, regardless of their race, belief, or whatever makes them different from ourselves鈥�.

Sharing God's love with others

鈥淭hese our important words for us鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, 鈥渂ecause, beyond the astonishment we feel in the face of human works, they remind us that there is an even greater wonder to be embraced with even greater admiration and respect: namely, the brothers and sisters we meet鈥� every day.

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to say that God鈥檚 love invites us to share with others, to respond generously to the needs of the poor, to encourage those who suffer, and to be always ready to forgive and to hope鈥�.

Love, he said, again quoting St John Paul, 鈥渋s the very centre of the Gospel鈥�!

The example of the saints

The Holy Father concluded his homily by pointing to the example of two saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Francis Xavier, who exemplify that love.

On today鈥檚 feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary, 鈥渨e see the Father鈥檚 love manifested in one of the most beautiful and fulsome of ways鈥�, that is, in the tenderness of a mother who never abandons us.

And in St Francis Xavier, who in his missionary journeys was often welcomed in Singapore, we see a saint who recognized the primacy of charity over learning.

杏MAP导航 Francis invited the faithful to follow their example, and to take up the words of St Francis Xavier, 鈥淟ord, here I am; what do you want me to do?鈥�, so that "they may accompany us not only in these days, but always, as a constant commitment to listening and responding readily to the invitations to love and live justly that continue to come to us today from the infinite love of God鈥�.