Pope Francis: No one can be Christian without love of God

Last updated on: October 31, 2013 at 4:45 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope Francis: No one can be Christian without love of God 2013-10-31T16:45:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Oct 31, 2013 / 10:45 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his daily homily, Pope Francis spoke of the necessity of God’s love in order to be faithful, and encouraged those present to make love the center of their lives.

“Without the love of Christ, without living this love, without recognizing it, without nurturing this love, you cannot be Christian,” the Pope reflected during his Oct. 31 homily.

The Pope celebrated his Mass this morning in the St. Sebastian Chapel near the tomb of Bl. John Paul II inside St. Peter’s Basilica, where a group of Polish faithful gather to celebrate the Eucharist every Thursday.

Saint Paul’s words to the Romans from the day’s first reading when he tells them that “no one can separate me from the love of Christ” formed the basis for the Pope’s reflections.

Having lived through many difficulties, including persecution, illness and betrayal, the pontiff noted that at the center of Paul’s life was a specific reference; “the love of Christ,” and that without recognizing and allowing that love to grow in us, we cannot be true Christians.

“The Christian is one who feels loved by the Lord,” he stressed, “with that beautiful gaze, loved by the Lord and loved until the end. The Christian feels that his life has been saved by the Blood of Christ.”

“And this is what love is: a relationship of love.”

Pope Francis went on to contrast this attitude with the image of the “sorrow Jesus when he looks to Jerusalem,” who did not understand his love, which is like that of a mother hen who wants to gather her chicks under her wings.

“It didn't understand the tenderness of God,” he said, noting that this is the opposite of how Paul felt when encountered with the love of God.

“Yes, God loves me, God loves us, but in an abstract way, it is something that does not touch my heart, and I organize life the way I want. There is no fidelity there.”

The cry in Jesus’ heart, stressed the Pope was “’Jerusalem, you are not faithful, you have not allowed yourself to love, and you have entrusted yourself to many idols that promised you everything, they said that they'd give you everything, and after they have abandoned you.’”

At the heart of the suffering love of Jesus, he pressed, was “a love that was not accepted, was not received.”

Before us, urged the Pope, we have the image of Saint Paul, who remains faithful to the love of Christ until the end, and who, even when faced with his weakness and sinfulness, “has strength in the love of God, in that meeting he had with Jesus Christ.”

On the other hand, noted the pontiff, we have the Jerusalem, who is unfaithful and who “does not accept the love of Jesus, or even worse, eh? But this love that lives in half: a bit 'yes,’ a little 'no,’ according to their convenience.”

In the face of these two images, “What can we do?” the Pope asked, challenging those present to ask themselves “am I more like Paul or Jerusalem? Is my love for God as strong as that of Paul, or is my heart tepid, like that of Jerusalem?”

“May the Love, through the intercession of Blessed John Paul II, help us to answer this question,” he concluded, “So be it!”

Vatican

Previous Post

October 31, 2013

Former Yahoo executive thrilled to join 'brotherhood' of Church

Next Post

October 31, 2013 EU proposes $38 million to advance 'reproductive health'

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In 1 Peter 1, what does Peter say is more valuable than gold?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Wisdom Righteousness Charity Faith