Thursday, Nov 21 2024 Donate
A service of EWTN News

Christian life is not navel-gazing – it's self-giving, Pope says

Pope Francis meets with students in Paul VI audience hall on May 31, 2014. / Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.

During his homily at daily Mass on Thursday Pope Francis focused on authentic Christian love, stressing that it's not selfish, but freely and mercifully gives itself to others.

The Pope drew from the day's Gospel reading from Luke chapter six, where Jesus tells his disciples to love their enemies and "do good" to those who hate them.

"Be merciful as your Father is merciful. Only with a merciful heart can we do all that, which the Lord counsels us to do – all the way," Pope Francis said at Saint Martha's residence on Sept. 11.

"The Christian life is not a navel-gazing one. It is a life in which one gets out of oneself in order to give oneself to others. It is a gift, it is love – and love does not turn in on itself, it is not selfish, but self-giving."

On Jesus' call for Christians to be merciful, the Pope revisited a common theme of urging the faithful to be vigilant against gossiping and to refrain from making judgments of people.

"It seems that we have been named judges of others: engaging in gossip, talking behind people's backs, we judge everyone."

But God urges us not to condemn, "and you will not be condemned" yourself, Pope Francis said, noting that forgiveness is what we should strive for instead.

"We say it every day in the Our Father," he continued, "forgive us as we forgive others – and if I do not forgive, how can I ask the Father to forgive me?"

Pope Francis then went on to describe how the way in which the Lord teaches us is the way of generosity, magnanimity and of giving of oneself without counting the cost.

"It was for this that Jesus came into the world," he noted. He came not to deal out judgment or participate in idle gossip, not to pass judgments on anyone, but to give and forgive.

Pointing to how "Being Christian isn't easy," the Pope explained that we are only capable of become Christians through the grace of God, rather than our own strength.

"Here then arises the problem that we all must face daily: 'Lord, give me the grace to become a good Christian, because I cannot do it on my own.'"

This, the pontiff observed, "is something quite frightening at first glance – quite frightening, indeed."

Pope Francis concluded his reflections by encouraging attendees to "take the Gospel" and "read the 6th chapter of St. Luke – and reread it and reread it and reread it."

"And let us do so," he said, "and let us ask the Lord for the grace to understand what it is to be a Christian, to understand the grace He gives to us Christians, as well, because we cannot do it on our own."

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.

As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Click here

Our mission is the truth. Join us!

Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.

Donate to CNA