Pope Francis presided over Mass for the European Bishops’ Conference and encouraged the bishops to reflect on three key words as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the organization: consider carefully, rebuild, and take a look.
(Vatican News Network)Pope Francis presided over Mass on the afternoon of September 23 for the Council of Bishops of Europe (CCEE). In his preaching, the pope reflected on three sets of vocabulary that challenged European Christians and bishops, namely: consider carefully, rebuild, and take a look. The bishops of the consecration came to Rome from all over Europe to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the European Bishops’ Conference Committee, and held a plenary meeting from September 23 to 26.
The first reading of the liturgical reading of the day tells that the Lord spoke through the mouth of the Prophet Haggai, inviting us to “think carefully” our lifestyle. In this passage, the prophet twice exhorted the people: “You should carefully consider your actions!” (Refer: Gai 1: 5, 7) The pope pointed out that this exhortation brings challenges, because in Europe today, “We Christians are also tempted to settle for our own structure, homes, and churches, enjoying the stability provided by our traditions, and being satisfied with a certain degree of consensus, but the churches around us are all but different, Jesus Gradually forgotten.”
The Pope asked all bishops and all those who attended the ceremony to reflect on “how many people no longer long for God”. This is not because they are sinful, but because “no one awakens the thirst for faith in their hearts, no one satisfies the thirst of the hearts of people.” Of course, we are “worried” about this, but are we really trying to solve this problem? After raising this question, the Pope stated that “it is a pointless move to judge those who do not believe.” “Do we care and pity those who have never felt the joy of meeting Jesus, or those who have lost this joy?”
The Lord also through the Prophet Haggai asked his people to reflect on another matter, namely: charity. The Pope explained: “Lack of charity makes people unhappy, because only love can satisfy the heart.” “The path to getting out of problems and getting rid of the closed state is always to give without asking for anything. There is no other way. Let us consider this carefully.”
Through the prophets, the Lord asked the people to build his homes and rebuild the temples (see: Gai 1: 8). From this, the pope expounded the second word: rebuilding. In order to build a common homeland in Europe, we must “put down the immediate convenience and restore the far-sighted, prophetic and comprehensive vision of the founders.” We must start from the foundation, because the reconstruction should start from the foundation: starting from the living inheritance of the church, with “essence, good news, closeness and testimony” as the cornerstone. We must rebuild from the foundation of the church at all times and places. The first thing is to “worship God and care for neighbors, not our own unique tastes.” The entire reconstruction work requires concerted efforts and unity with others to complete. Rebuilding means to be an inclusive craftsman and a unified weaver at all levels.
“If we rebuild in this way, we can let the brothers and sisters see.” Here comes the third word: look (see: Lu 9 9). “Many people in Europe regard faith as something’already seen’, as a legacy of the past. This is because they have not yet seen Jesus wield power in their lives.” And this is mostly because our lives are not enough to show them Jesus. “They don’t know the good shepherd who loves every sheep, every sheep can be named, and when they find the sheep, they carry the sheep on their shoulders. They can’t see the one we’re preaching about Incredible suffering”.
This sacred, loving and unforgettable love “is itself an immortal new meaning of the gospel.” The Pope finally told the bishops in Europe that the novelty of the gospel “requires us to make wise and bold choices in the name of the folly and gentleness that Christ has saved us.”
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