In his homily during the Mass for the Sunday of the Word of God, read by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pope Francis invites Christians to make time for the Holy Scriptures and emphasizes that God’s Word is the consolation, but also the call to repentance. .
By Lydia O’Kane
The holy Mass for the 2nd Sunday of the Word of God was celebrated by Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Papal Council for the Advancement of the New Evangelism.
In his homily, read by Archbishop Fisichella, Pope Francis turned his attention to what Jesus had say and to whom He says this while proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
What Jesus says
The pope notices how Jesus begins his preaching with the words, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand.”
He further said that the first message taken from this is that “God is near and his kingdom has come down to earth.”
“The time of his distance ended when he became human in Jesus,” the pope said.
God is near
He emphasizes that, “Above all, we must believe and proclaim that God has come near to us, that we have been forgiven and that mercy has been shown.”
God’s word, says Pope Francis, still tells us, “Do not be afraid, I am with you. I am by your side and I will always be there.”
The Lord, “said the pope,” that he took us to heart, that we are precious in his eyes, and that he holds us in the palm of his hand. ‘
“God’s word is a comfort, but also a call to repentance,” Pope Francis said. “Repent,” says Jesus, immediately after proclaiming God’s nearness.
Those who hear God’s word, Pope Francis stressed, “are constantly reminded that life is not about protecting us from others, but about meeting them in the name of God near us.”
Nobody is Far From God’s Heart
Focus his attention to whom Jesus speaks, and the pope remarked that his first words were to Galilean fishermen, whom he described as ‘simple people’.
Pope Francis pointed out that Jesus began with people “not from the center, but from the periphery, and He did this to tell us that no one is far from God’s heart.”
The pope noted how the ‘particular power’ has the word of God, emphasizing how it ‘can touch every person directly’.
“The disciples would never forget the words they had that day on the shores of the lake, by their boats, in the company of their relatives and associates: words that marked their lives forever.” Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ‘
“He did not appeal to them using lofty words and ideas,” Pope Francis said, but spoke to their lives, saying they would be “fishers of men.”
The pope explained that Jesus spoke to them “in terms of their own livelihood”.
And he further said that Jesus does the same with us; seek us where we are and walk by our side.
Make room for God’s Word
Finally, Pope Francis encouraged everyone not to “ignore God’s word. It is a love letter written to us by the One we know best. ‘
He also encouraged the believers to always carry it with them and give it “a worthy place in our homes.”
In order to concentrate on God’s word, the pope prayed that we too would have the power to ‘turn off the television and open the Bible, turn off our cell phone, and open the Gospel.’