Posted on 10/14/2013 7:34:32 AM PDT by markomalley
Pope Francis warned against the hypocrisy of thinking one is saved by pious works during his homily at morning Mass today at Casa Santa Marta. This attitude of perfect piety risks for one to look for their own salvation but not for the care of the poor. The Holy Father referred to this hypocrisy as the “Jonah syndrome”, referring to the sign of Jonah that Christ speaks of in today’s Gospel.
The Gospel of Luke, which recounted Christ’s warning to the “wicked generation”, a term he said that is very strong. “This, however, does not refer to the people who followed Him with so much love,” the Pope explained, “but to the doctors of the law who tried to test Him and make Him fall in their trap.”
Saying that while Christ says that the only sign that will be given to them will be the sign of Jonah, Pope Francis said that there also exists the “Jonah syndrome”, meaning, the tendency to justify oneself with doctrine while sinners fend for themselves. The Holy Father referenced Jonah’s initial reaction to preaching in Nineveh, which was to flee.
“The ‘Jonah syndrome’ does not have the zeal for the conversion of people, it is in search of a sanctity - if you permit me to say - a ‘dyed’ sanctity, all beautiful, all well made, but lacking that zeal to go and preach the Lord,” the Holy Father said.
“However in front of this generation that is sick from the “Jonah syndrome”, the Lord promises the sign of Jonah. The other version, that of Matthew, says: Jonah was inside the whale for three nights and three days, referring to Jesus in the tomb - his death and Resurrection - and that is the sign that Jesus promises, against hypocrisy, against this attitude of perfect religiosity, against this attitude of a group of Pharisees.”
The Holy Father noted another Gospel as an example of these two attitudes which is found in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican. The story, which speaks of a Pharisee who praises God for not being like the publican (tax collector) who instead prays for God’s mercy.
“This is the sign that Jesus promises for his forgiveness through his death and Resurrection: it his mercy, ‘It is mercy that I want and not sacrifice’,” the Pope said. This true ‘sign of Jonah’, he went on to say, is the complete trust in one’s salvation through the blood of Christ. While there are many Christians believe they are saved only through their works, it is not what brings salvation. Good works, he said, “are a consequence, a response to that merciful love that saves us.”
Concluding his homily, Pope Francis told the faithful present that the sign of Jonah is a calling for all Christians to follow the Lord with humility and meekness despite our sins. “It is a calling, as well as a choice,” he said.
Brace for flood of comments saying that the Pope doesn’t think Catholics should pray or practice devotions, doesn’t think holiness is important, is a Communist, yadda yadda yadda.
People wonder why I don't put 'caucus' labels on these threads...well, this type of thing will end up having just as much criticism from within the Church as without.
On topic, another Gospel story that illustrates his point is the parable of the Good Samaritan. Some commentators have said that the priest and Levite did not help the injured man because they thought he was dead and were afraid of ritual contamination.
i don’t even like the wording of this headline! True piety isn’t concerned with ritual purity; it inherently motivates charity, and prayers are the most effective kind of charity.
...plus, of course, prayers are an effective way to obtain a heart like Jesus’. Focus on prayer, and you will be called into the world for works. Focus on do-gooderism, and you will become another materialism zealot for fruitless works.
Brace for flood of comments saying that the Pope doesn’t think Catholics should pray or practice devotions, doesn’t think holiness is important, is a Communist, yadda yadda yadda.
It sounds like you think all the recent controversy has been motivated by people twisting the words of the pope to make them sound dubious. I find such very hard to believe.
I think many comments I have read have been from people who failed to read anything but the headline.
His holiness must associate with a different kind of Christian than those I come in contact with.
Your defensiveness is a tad over the top. I think the Pope can handle criticism without having to insult it as "yadda yadda yadda."
Mercy, humility and meekness.
He gets to be heard while I'm told to pipe down. Oh well, there's got to be some perks to being Pope.
Nevertheless, on this particular subject, the Pope is nailing what, (IMHO), is the biggest problem with Christianity today. Because most Christians just love that judgement stuff. And why? because THEY have been saved. And how? well, because Jesus approached them with mercy and forgiveness, with a gentleness and love that reached their very soul.
So now, of course, they can write "JESUS LOVES YOU, REPENT OR BE DAMNED" on bricks and throw them at people, and wonder why everyone hates them and hides from them, and run to smiling satanic comfort instead of seeking God.
Oh I'm sorry, not everyone writes that. Some people write "REPENT OR BE DAMNED, JESUS LOVES YOU." The two groups then argue with each other, and throw their brick at each other to bering each other back to the safety of the Lord.
And I haven't even gotten into the various factions who argue over spelling, language, or whether the brick can be replaced by a rock or a steel pipe.
But one thing they all have in common agreement: throw it often, and throw it hard.
And also all agree that it is a complete mystery why God has allowed America to fall so low under communist influence.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.