Posted on 04/18/2013 8:17:14 AM PDT by marshmallow
When Pope Francis said Mass this morning for Vatican bank employees, some might have expected a homily on financial ethics.
Instead, he delivered a brief and insightful reflection on the strength of baptism. Essentially, the pope argued that unless lay Catholics are willing to courageously live and proclaim their faith, the church risks turning into a “babysitter” for sleeping children.
Pope Francis was speaking to the mostly lay employees of the Vatican bank in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where his morning Masses have become daily teaching moments.
He referred to the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles on the evangelizing efforts of the earliest Christians, who traveled from place to place proclaiming the Gospel.
“They were a simple faithful, baptized just a year or so before – but they had the courage to go and proclaim,” he said.
“I think of us, the baptized: do we really have this strength – and I wonder – do we really believe in this? Is baptism enough? Is it sufficient for evangelization? Or do we rather ‘hope’ that the priest should speak, that the bishop might speak ... and what of us? Then, the grace of baptism is somewhat closed, and we are locked in our thoughts, in our concerns. Or sometimes think: ‘No, we are Christians, I was baptized, I made Confirmation, First Communion ... I have my identity card all right. And now, go to sleep quietly, you are a Christian.’ But where is this power of the Spirit that carries us forward?”
(Excerpt) Read more at johnthavis.com ...
He’s right and the it’s especially a challenge today because if you DARE speak out against groups like the Gay Lobby, you’ll be labeled hateful by the most hateful people of all. With the help of their fellow left wing bullies in the media, of course.
Francis openned his Papacy by allowing Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden to receive communion when he could easily have prevented it.
Then he warns the Church about becoming a “babysitter”.
Is he leading by example?
This is partially why many such as myself are complicit. I want to live comfortably. Prefer not to be crucified. Yet only in an honest living of God's urging does the spirit live fully within and radiate out even in absence of that feeling from a believer.
We are (not all but many) a faith of wimps. Then we blame others. The truth is if we were doing our part we would be busy doing our part instead of bit-hing and whining. We only have so much energy in a lifetime.
I can't stand Muslim terrorists. Yet one thing these people show is a commitment to do what it takes (even if it is a lie that it is for their god.)
We complain and rail against them. Yet we don't have the same commitment or courage to represent and do whatever it takes to represent and do for the God of Love and Peace.
Excellent point. Leadership starts at the top. Pope Francis clearly gets this. I will--for now--trust Francis' not denying them communion was an action given in the moment by a leading of God. That to deny them so openly and publicly is what should be done in the long run but not in that particular moment. If he eventually denies people communion--as he stated should happen--THAT would be earth changing.
Sometimes things are held off until the right moment with God. I hope this is one of those issues.
“Francis opened his Papacy by allowing Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden to receive communion when he could easily have prevented it.”
I disagree. How could he have “easily” prevented it? Are you latching onto Biden and Pelosi’s scandal-giving to condemn everything Francis does? Biden and Pelosi’s bishops do have an obligation to speak to them and even bar them from Communion in my opinion. But is the new pope supposed to know the state of the souls of all the politicians and people from so many different countries at his installation Mass only days after his election?
Yes. Biden and Pelosi were the highest profile Americans at that Vatican Mass, and had come specifically hoping to stick it in the Pope's face, which they did.
If the Pope wished to kick off his papacy with business as usual, I'd say he succeeded quite well.
“I disagree. How could he have “easily” prevented it?”
Very easily; he could have never invited them to the Mass in the first place.
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