Pope exhorts Christians to Proclaim Jesus without fear, shame or Triumphalism
Vatican City, 10 September 2013: Christians are called to proclaim Jesus without fear,
without shame and without triumphalism. That’s the essence of what Pope Francis said
at Tuesday morning’s daily mass at the Vatican guesthouse Santa Marta. The Pope stressed
the fact that Christ is always the center of our life and hope.
Jesus is the
Winner, Who has won over death and sin, said the Pope, focusing his reflections on
the Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians. To all of us, continued the Pontiff, St.
Paul recommended to walk with Jesus "because He has won. Be rooted and built up in
Him walking with Him, firm in the faith." The key point is that "Jesus is risen."
But, it is not always easy to understand. The Pope then recalled that when St. Paul
spoke to the Greeks in Athens he was listened to with interest up to when he spoke
of the resurrection. "This makes us afraid , it best to leave it as is." Pope Francis
said. Continuing his Homily the Pope recalled the Apostles, who closed themselves
up in the Upper Room for fear of the Jews, even Mary Magdalene is weeping because
they have taken away the Lord's Body . " …they are afraid to think about the Resurrection."
The Pope noted that “there are also the Christians who are embarrassed. They are embarrassed
to "confess that Christ is risen.
Finally, said Pope Francis there is the group
of Christians who " in their hearts do not believe in the Risen Lord and want to make
theirs a more majestic resurrection than that of the real one . These, he said are
the “triumphalist” Christians.
" They do not know the meaning of the word '
triumph ' the Pope continued, so they just say “triumphalism”, because they have such
an inferiority complex and want to do this ...
When we look at these Christians
, with their many triumphalist attitudes , in their lives, in their speeches and in
their pastoral theology, liturgy , so many things , it is because they do not believe
deep down in the Risen One . He is the Winner, the Risen One. He won.
"This,
the Holy Father added, is the message that Paul gives to us " Christ "is everything,"
he is totality and hope , "because he is the Bridegroom , the Winner ". May the Lord
give us the grace to understand and live these things, the Pope prayed. Source:
VR Sedoc