Pope Francis: A true Christian has to endure humiliations with joy and patience
Pope Francis said on Friday the proof of whether we are true Christians is shown by
our ability to endure humiliations with joy and patience. Speaking at his morning
mass in the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse, the Pope stressed this need for sacrifice
in the Christian’s life of faith.
Listen to the report by Susy Hodges:
In his
homily at the mass, the Pope began with the Gospel account from St. Luke where Jesus
asked his disciples who they thought he was to illustrate his reflections on what
is demanded of a Christian who follows the Lord. It was after this question and
Peter’s correct answer, the Pope continued, that Jesus revealed to the disciples
his Passion, his death and his resurrection and he recalled Peter’s horrified reaction
to this news in the gospel account from St. Matthew. He said “Peter was frightened
and scandalized just like many Christians” who declare “this will never happen to
you, I will follow you up to this point.”
Pope Francis said “this is the temptation
of a spiritual wellbeing.” Like the young rich man in the gospel “who wanted to follow
Jesus but only up to a certain point.” He said “the scandal of the Cross continues
to block many Christians” who rather than following this path of the Cross complain
about the wrongs and insults they’ve had to ensure.
The Pope said “the proof
if somebody is a true Christian is his or her ability to endure humiliations with
joy and patience.” This, he concluded, is our choice, “whether to be a Christian
of wellbeing or a Christian close to Jesus” who walks along the path of the Cross.