Vatican City, 24 November 2014 (VIS) –
During the Mass celebrated this morning on the Solemnity of Christ
King of the Universe, the Holy Father canonised blesseds Giovanni
Antonio Fraina (1803-1888), Kuriakose Elias Chavara of the Holy
Family (1805-1871), Ludovico da Casoria (1814-1885), Nicola da
Longobardi (1650-1709), Euphrasia Eluvathingal of the Sacred Heart
(1877-1952) and Amato Ronconi (c. 1226-c.1292).
In his homily, the Pope remarked that
the kingdom of Jesus is the “kingdom of truth and life, the kingdom
of sanctity and grace, the kingdom of justice, love and peace”, and
he commented on today's readings show how the Lord established his
kingdom, how He brings it about as history unfolds, and what He now
asks of us.
Jesus brought about his kingdom
“through his closeness and tenderness towards us”, as the prophet
Ezekiel foresaw in the first reading that describes the attitude of
the Shepherd towards His flock, using the verbs such as to seek, to
keep watch, to round up, to lead to pasture, to bring to rest; to
seek the lost sheep, to tend to the wounded, to heal the sick, to
care for and to graze. “Those of us who are called to be pastors in
the Church cannot stray from this example, if we do not want to
become hirelings. In this respect, the People of God have an unerring
sense for recognising good shepherds and distinguishing them from
hirelings”.
After his victory, that is, after the
Resurrection – Jesus' kingdom grew, but it was not a kingdom
according to earthly models. “For Him, to reign was not to command,
but to obey the Father, to give Himself over to the Father, so that
His plan of love and salvation may be brought to fulfilment. … The
Gospel teaches what Jesus' kingdom requires of us: it reminds us that
closeness and tenderness are the rule of life for us also, and that
on this basis we will be judged. … The starting point of salvation
is not the confession of the sovereignty of Christ, but rather the
imitation of Jesus' works of mercy through which He brought about his
kingdom”. He explained that those who accomplish these works show
that they have understood and welcomed Jesus' sovereignty, because
they have opened their hearts to God's charity. “In the twilight of
life we will be judged on our love for, closeness to and and
tenderness towards our brothers and sisters. … Jesus has opened to
us His kingdom to us, but it is for us to enter into it, beginning
with our life now – his kingdom begins now – by being close in
concrete ways to our brothers and sisters who as for bread, clothing,
acceptance, solidarity, catechesis”.
“Today the Church places before us
the examples of these new saints. Each in her or her own way served
the kingdom of God, of which they became heirs, precisely through
works of generous devotion to God and their brothers and sisters.
They responded with extraordinary creativity to the commandment of
love of God and neighbour. They dedicated themselves without reserve
to serving the least and assisting the destitute, sick, elderly and
pilgrims. Their preference for the smallest and poorest was the
reflection and the measure of their unconditional love of God. In
fact, they sought and discovered love in a strong and personal
relationship with God, from whence springs forth love for one's
neighbour”. Pope Francis concluded, “Through the rite of
canonisation, we have confessed once again the mystery of God's
kingdom and we have honoured Christ the King, the Shepherd full of
love for His sheep. May our new saints, through their witness and
intercession, increase within us the joy of walking in the way of the
Gospel and our resolve to embrace it as the compass of our lives”.
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