Vatican
City, 27 October 2013 (VIS) – The pilgrimage of families to Rome as
part of the Year of Faith concluded this morning with the Holy Mass
celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, which was crowded
with participants, as were Via della Conciliazione and the adjacent
streets. Below is the full text of the Holy Father's homily,
following the Gospel reading.
“The
readings this Sunday invite us to reflect on some basic features of
the Christian family.
“First:
the family prays. The Gospel passage speaks about two ways of
praying: one is false – that of the Pharisee – and the other is
authentic – that of the tax collector. The Pharisee embodies an
attitude which does not express thanksgiving to God for his blessings
and his mercy, but rather self-satisfaction. The Pharisee feels
himself justified, he feels his life is in order, he boasts of this,
and he judges others from his pedestal. The tax collector, on the
other hand, does not multiply words. His prayer is humble, sober,
pervaded by a consciousness of his own unworthiness, of his own
needs. Here is a man who truly realizes that he needs God’s
forgiveness and his mercy.
“The
prayer of the tax collector is the prayer of the poor man, a prayer
pleasing to God. It is a prayer which, as the first reading says,
'will reach to the clouds', unlike the prayer of the Pharisee, which
is weighed down by vanity.
“In
the light of God’s word, I would like to ask you, dear families: Do
you pray together from time to time as a family? Some of you do, I
know. But so many people say to me: But how can we? As the tax
collector does, it is clear: humbly, before God. Each one, with
humility, allowing themselves to be gazed upon by the Lord and
imploring his goodness, that he may visit us. But in the family how
is this done? After all, prayer seems to be something personal, and
besides there is never a good time, a moment of peace… Yes, all
that is true enough, but it is also a matter of humility, of
realising that we need God, like the tax collector! And all families,
we need God: all of us! We need his help, his strength, his blessing,
his mercy, his forgiveness. And we need simplicity to pray as a
family: simplicity is necessary! Praying the Our Father together,
around the table, is not something extraordinary: its easy. And
praying the Rosary together, as a family, is very beautiful and a
source of great strength! And also praying for one another! The
husband for his wife, the wife for her husband, both together for
their children, the children for their grandparents ... praying for
each other. This is what it means to pray in the family and it is
what makes the family strong: prayer.
“The
second reading suggests another thought: the family keeps the faith.
The Apostle Paul, at the end of his life, makes a final reckoning and
says: 'I have kept the faith'. But how did he keep the faith? Not in
a safe! Nor did he hide it underground, like the somewhat lazy
servant. Saint Paul compares his life to a fight and to a race. He
kept the faith because he didn’t just defend it, but proclaimed it,
spread it, took it to distant lands. He stood up to all those who
wanted to preserve, to 'embalm' the message of Christ within the
limits of Palestine. That is why he made courageous decisions, he
went into hostile territory, he let himself be challenged by distant
peoples and different cultures, he spoke frankly and fearlessly.
Saint Paul kept the faith because, in the same way that he received
it, he gave it away; he went out to the fringes, and didn’t dig
himself into defensive positions.
“Here
too, we can ask: How do we keep our faith as a family? Do we keep it
for ourselves, in our families, as a personal treasure like a bank
account, or are we able to share it by our witness, by our acceptance
of others, by our openness? We all know that families, especially
young families, are often 'racing' from one place to another, with
lots to do. But did you ever think that this 'racing' could also be
the race of faith? Christian families are missionary families.
Yesterday in this square we heard the testimonies of missionary
families. They are missionary also in everyday life, in their doing
everyday things, as they bring to everything the salt and the leaven
of faith! Keeping the faith in families and bringing to everyday
things the salt and the leaven of faith.
“And
one more thought we can take from God’s word: the family
experiences joy. In the responsorial psalm we find these words: 'let
the humble hear and be glad'. The entire psalm is a hymn to the Lord
who is the source of joy and peace. What is the reason for this
gladness? It is that the Lord is near, he hears the cry of the lowly
and he frees them from evil. As Saint Paul himself writes: 'Rejoice
always … The Lord is near'. I would like to ask you all a question
today. But each of you keep it in your heart and take it home. You
can regard it as a kind of 'homework'. Only you must answer. How are
things when it comes to joy at home? Is there joy in your family? You
can answer this question.
“Dear
families, you know very well that the true joy which we experience in
the family is not superficial; it does not come from material
objects, from the fact that everything seems to be going well ...
True joy comes from a profound harmony between persons, something
which we all feel in our hearts and which makes us experience the
beauty of togetherness, of mutual support along life’s journey. But
the basis of this feeling of deep joy is the presence of God, the
presence of God in the family and his love, which is welcoming,
merciful, and respectful towards all. And above all, a love which is
patient: patience is a virtue of God and he teaches us how to
cultivate it in family life, how to be patient, and lovingly so, with
each other. To be patient among ourselves. A patient love. God alone
knows how to create harmony from differences. But if God’s love is
lacking, the family loses its harmony, self-centred individualism
prevails and joy fades. But the family which experiences the joy of
faith communicates it naturally. That family is the salt of the earth
and the light of the world, it is the leaven of society as a whole.
“Dear
families, always live in faith and simplicity, like the Holy Family
of Nazareth! May the joy and peace of the Lord be always with you!”
