by Faith Central & Steve Welsh
“… Sin leads people to be unsatisfied with what God has done for them and go looking for other idols and other gods, the pope said. The Israelites who made the golden calf — the subject of the day’s first reading from Exodus — were not an exception. …”
“War begins in a person’s heart, for this reason we are all responsible for caring for peace. This was #PopeFrancis’ message during his morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta.”
“Courage prayer, and humility: these are the traits that distinguish the great ‘heralds’ who have helped the Church to grow in the world, who have contributed to its missionary character. …”
“#PopeFrancis …. spoke of the importance of the bond of brotherhood and of how easy it is for petty jealousies and envy to damage that bond and set off a process that can lead to the destruction of families and peoples.”
“… ‘In particular, in [this Sunday’s] Gospel, Jesus examines three aspects, three commandments: murder, adultery and oath-swearing. With regard to the commandment, “Thou shalt not kill,” He affirms that it is violated not only by actual homicide, but also by those behaviors, which offend the dignity of the human person, including insulting words (cf. Mt. 5:22). Certainly, these injurious words do not have the same gravity and sinfulness of killing, but they are placed on the same line, because they are the premises of the more serious acts and they reveal the same malevolence. Jesus invites us not to establish a schedule [It. graduatoria] of offenses, but to consider them all harmful, insofar as they are all moved by the intention to do harm to one’s neighbor. …'”
“#PopeFrancis stressed the need for a culture of dialogue saying our world has become a global village in which each person belongs to humanity and shares in the hope for a better future for the whole family of nations. Unfortunately, he said, there are many forms of violence, poverty, exploitation, discrimination, marginalization and restrictions on freedom that create a culture of waste. ‘Within this context, Catholic educational institutions are called to be on the front line in practicing a grammar of dialogue” which, he said, is the basis of encounter and of the enhancement of cultural and religious diversity. …
The Vatican reports, through News.Va, that #PopeFrancis, in a Spanish-speaking video message, has issued a good will message on the occasion of the 2017 #SuperBowl in Houston.:
In a specially recorded video message for the event which holds the attention of much of the nation and commands a television audience larger than for any other event of the year, the Pope pointed out that great sporting events like the championship game of the National Football League are highly symbolic, and show that it is possible to build a culture of encounter and a world of peace. ‘By participating in sport, we are able to go beyond our own self-interest – and in a healthy way – we learn to sacrifice, to grow in fidelity and respect the rules. May this year’s Super Bowl be a sign of peace, friendship and solidarity to the world’ he said.
The Vatican version of the video is embedded below, which appeared to lack an English translation.
“… Referring to the Gospel reading of the day, Pope Francis said Jesus came to destroy the influence of evil on our hearts. …”
“… ‘The #Church,’ said #PopeFrancis, ‘is in every age called to do that, which John the Baptist did: to show #Jesus to the people, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'”
“… Pope Francis in his homily spoke about these three Kings who, he said, ‘personify all those who believe, those who long for God, who yearn for their home, their heavenly homeland.’ They reflect, he added, ‘the image of all those who in their lives have not let their hearts become anesthetized.’ Like these kings, the Pope explained, ‘a holy longing for God helps us keep alert in the face of every attempt to reduce and impoverish our life. That longing keeps hope alive in the community of believers, which from week to week continues to plead: ‘Come, Lord Jesus.'” …”