Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Pope: This New Year’s, embrace gratitude, reject slavery of sin

Pope: This New Year’s, embrace gratitude, reject slavery of sin

Last updated on: December 31, 2014 at 8:44 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope: This New Year’s, embrace gratitude, reject slavery of sin 2014-12-31T20:44:00+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, Dec 31, 2014 / 01:44 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- At the year's end, Pope Francis reflected on Christ’s saving presence within time, cautioning against nostalgia for the slavery of sin, and encouraging gratitude that leads to repentance.

The theme of time was central to Pope Francis' off-the-cuff homily, delivered during evening Vespers in Saint Peter’s Basilica Dec. 31.

“The significance of time, temporality,” he said, “is the atmosphere of God’s epiphany, that is, of the manifestation of God and his concrete love.”

The evening celebrations were also marked by the chanting of the Te Deum, an ancient prayer of praise which grants the one who recites it publicly on New Year’s Eve a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions. The Pope also presided over exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Pope Francis turned his reflection to the words of Paul to the Galatians, taken from the evening’s Vespers: “But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”

“Time was – in a manner of speaking – 'touched' by Christ, the Son of God and of Mary,” he said, thereby becoming the “'salvific time'… defined by salvation and grace.”

This theme of time, in turn, “inspires us to think about the end of life's journey, the end of our journey,” the Holy Father said. By examining our conscience, he explained, we revisit what we have done, giving thanks for the good we have received and have been able to accomplish, all the while recalling “our weaknesses and our sins.”

Pope Francis then reflected on the Te Deum, recited shortly after the homily, during which “we praise the Lord” and at the same time ask his forgiveness.

“The attitude of thanks disposes us to humility, to recognize and welcome the gifts of the Lord,” he said.

While we are filled with gratitude, however, we recall that “we are far from [God] because of original sin,” causing our “filial relationship” to be “profoundly wounded.”

“Because of this, God sent his Son to redeem us with His blood,” the Holy Father added, thereby freeing us “from the slavery of sin” and restoring our filial status.

It is with this gift of redemption in mind that we make our examination of conscience, Pope Francis said: “Do we live as children or as slaves? Do we live as persons Baptized in Christ, united by the Spirit, redeemed, free? Or do we live according to earthly logic, corrupt, doing that which the devil makes us believe is in our best interest?”

This “slavery” of sin, the Pope continued, reduces time to the mere “moment,” preventing “us from fully and truly living in the present, for it empties the past and closes the door to the future, to eternity.”

Yet we long for this slavery, he said, because it makes us feel safe. He compared this longing to the desire for fireworks: “they seem to be beautiful but in fact they only last a few moments!”

This examination of conscience, the Holy Father continued, also depends on the “quality of our work, of our lives, of our presence in the city, of our service toward the common good, of our participation in public and ecclesial institutions.”

As Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis expressed his desire to take on the experiences of those living in the “eternal city,” recalling the witness of the martyrs Saints Peter and Paul.

Reflecting on the recently-revealed corruption cases in Rome, he called for a conversion of hearts, as well as for a “renewed commitment to create a more just and stable city, where the poor the weak, and the marginalized are at the center of our concern and our daily activities.”

The poor and weak, when cared for, “reveal the treasure of the Church” and of society, he said. On the other hand, when the poor are ignored, “persecuted, criminalized,” and forced into a life of crime, the society is revealed to be “impoverished to the point of misery.” This society “loses freedom and prefers the 'garlic and onions'” of slavery.

Such a society ceases to be Christian, he said.

Pope Francis concluded his homily by inviting the faithful to not long for slavery, but rather to reflect on the “final hour” and remember that this is the “fullness of time.”

The Virgin Mary, he said, as the temple in which the Word was made Flesh in time, “gave to the world the Savior, helping us to welcome him with open hearts, to be and truly live freely as God’s children.”

Vatican

Previous Post

December 30, 2014

In Zimbabwe, poverty is the Church's biggest enemy

Next Post

January 1, 2015 In peace message, Pope takes aim at modern-day slavery

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

Which king was known for his extravagant building projects and many wives?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Hezekiah Solomon David Ahab