Vatican
City, 29 May 2013
(VIS) – The mystery of the Church will be the theme of Pope
Francis' new cycle of catechesis during the Wednesday general
audiences. “A mystery,” he said, “that we all live and in which
we all take part.” The Pope, who will discuss this topic in light
of Vatican Council II texts, began from the parable of the prodigal
son that illustrates God's plan for humanity.
In
spite of the rain that suddenly fell on Rome this morning, Francis
followed his custom of winding through St. Peter's Square in the
Popemobile, greeting the tens of thousands of people present and,
before beginning his catechesis, he joked with them, praising their
endurance in spite of the inclement weather.
In
his teaching, the Holy Father explained that God's plan is “to make
of all of us one family of his children, [a family] in which each one
feels close to and loved by him … feels the warmth of being the
family of God. The Church—not an organization born out of an
agreement between some persons but … the work of God, born of this
love and progressively built in history—has her origin in this
great plan.”
The
Church, the pontiff explained, “is born of God's desire to call all
men and women to communion with him, to friendship with him, even
further, to participate as his children in his very divinity. The
word 'Church' itself, from the Greek 'ekklesia', means 'convocation'.
God calls us, urges us to leave selfishness behind, the tendency to
be wrapped up in oneself, and calls us to be part of his family. This
call has its origins in creation itself. God created us so that we
might live a relationship of profound friendship with him and, when
sin cut off that relationship with him, with others, and with
creation, God did not abandon us. The entire story of salvation is
the story of God seeking humans, offering us his love, gathering us
to him. He called Abraham to be the father of many; He chose the
people of Israel to forge a covenant that embraces all peoples; and
he sent, in the fullness of time, his Son so that his plan of love
and salvation might be fulfilled in a new and eternal covenant with
all of humanity.”
“When
we read the Gospel we see that Jesus gathers a small community around
him that welcomes his word, follows it, shares his journey, becomes
his family. And with this community He prepares and builds his
Church.” It is a Church whose origin lies in the “supreme act of
love on the Cross, in Jesus' opened side from which flow blood and
water, symbol of the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism. In the
family of God, in the Church, the lifeblood is God's love that is
made concrete in loving him and others, all, without distinction or
limits. The Church is a family in which we love and are loved.” The
Church is made manifest, as on Pentecost, “when the gift of the
Holy Spirit fills the hearts of the Apostles and compels them to go
out and begin the journey to proclaim the Gospel, to spread God's
love.”
The
Pope observed that, even today, “there are some who say: 'Christ
yes, the Church no'. Like those who say: 'I believe in God, but not
in the priests'. But it is precisely the Church that brings us Christ
and brings us to God. The Church is the great family of the children
of God. Of course it also has human aspects. there are defects,
imperfections, and sins in those who make her up, pastors and
faithful. Even the Pope has them, and many. But what is beautiful is
that, when we realize that we are sinners we encounter the mercy of
God who always forgives. He never forgets us. He gathers us up in his
love of forgiveness and mercy. Some say that sin is an offence
against God, but it is also an opportunity for the humility to
realize that there is something better: God's mercy. Let's think
about this.”
“How
much do I love the Church? Do I pray for her? Do I feel part of the
family of the Church? What am I doing to make it a community in which
everyone feels welcomed and understood, feels God's mercy and love
that renews life? Faith is a gift and an act that has to do with us
personally, but God calls us to live our faith together, as a family,
as the Church.”
“Let
us ask the Lord, particularly in this Year of Faith, that our
communities, that all the Church, be ever more truly families that
live and bring the warmth of God,”
the Holy Father concluded.