Pope on ‘Satellite Christians’ and their ‘Common Sense’

Vatican City, 20 April 2013: The lukewarm Christians are those who want to build a church in their own measure, but that is not the Church of Jesus, said Pope Francis on Saturday morning during the Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. It was attended by volunteers from the pediatric dispensary "Santa Marta" in the Vatican. Incidentally ‘Santa Marta’ is entrusted to the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who for 90 years supports children and families in need in Rome without distinction of religion or nationality.

Commenting on the reading from the Acts of the Apostles Pope Francis said that ‘the first Christian community, after the persecution, lives a moment of peace, and walks and grows "in the fear of the Lord and with the comfort of the Holy Spirit". "It is the style of the Church’, reminded the Pope. It is a bit like having a sense of adoration, the presence of God’. And so when we are in the presence of God, we do not do bad things. We are in God's sight with the joy and happiness – and this is the comfort of the Holy Spirit, this comfort keeps us going, added the Pope.

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel where many disciples leave Jesus after hearing his hard language, Pope Francis said that those left thought themselves having common sense and because of that, they did not want to go so close to him. These, he said, had a certain admiration for Jesus, but they found him talking a bit strange things.

These Christians - the Pope said - "they do not consolidate in the Church, do not walk in God's presence, and do not make up the Church."

"They are Christians of good sense, only, they walks at a distance’ the Pope said adding they are Christian 'satellites' or in the words of Jesus in Revelation, 'lukewarm Christians'. They walk only in the presence of common sense, that worldly prudence. This is a temptation just worldly prudence, the Pope warned.

But Pope also spoke of many Christians today who "now bear witness to the name of Jesus, even unto martyrdom." These - he said - are not 'Satellites Christians'.

"They know exactly what Peter said to the Lord, when the Lord asked the question: 'You also want to go and be Satellites Christians?'. Simon Peter answered him: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life'. Hence the Pope said from a large group a small group emerged of those who know perfectly well that they cannot go somewhere else, because only He, the Lord, has the words of eternal life." The Pope concluded his reflection praying for the Church to grow, to consolidate, to walk in the fear of God with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, and to deliver us from the temptation of that 'common sense'.
Source: VR Sedoc