Pope Francis: Jesus is the secret of a Christian’s benevolence
(Vatican Radio) For a Christian, Jesus is “all”, and this is the source of his or
her benevolence. This was the focus of Pope Francis’s message during Mass on
Monday morning at the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The Pope also affirmed that the righteousness
of Jesus exceeds the righteousness of the scribes, that it is superior to the “eye
for eye, tooth for tooth” kind of justice. Amongst those present at the Mass,
which was concelebrated by Cardinal Attilio Nicora, was a group of collaborators of
the Vatican’s Financial Information Authority and a group of Vatican Museums collaborators
accompanied by the Museum administrative director, Fr Paolo Nicolini. The Archbishop
of Manila, Cardinal Luis Tagle, was also present.
“If someone slaps you on
the right cheek, offer the other cheek also”. Pope Francis focused his homily on Jesus’
earth-shaking words to his disciples. The slap of the cheek – he said - has become
a classic take used by some to laugh about Christians. In life, he explained, everyday
logic teaches us to “fight to defend our place” and if we receive a slap “we react
and return two slaps in order to defend ourselves”. On the other hand, the Pope said,
when I advise parents to scold their children I always say: “never slap their cheek”,
because “the cheek is dignity”. And Jesus, he continued, after the slap on the cheek
goes further and invites us to hand over our coat as well, to undress ourselves completely.
The
righteousness that He brings – the Pope affirmed – is another kind of justice that
is totally different from “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”. It’s another justice. This
is clear when St. Paul speaks of Christians as “people who have nothing in themselves
but possess all things in Christ”. So, Christian security is exactly this “all” that
is in Christ. “All” - he added – is Jesus Christ. Other things are “nothing” for a
Christian. Instead, the Pope warned, “for the spirit of the world “all” means things:
riches, vanities”, it means “to be well placed in society” where “Jesus is nothing”.
Thus, if a Christian can walk 100 kilometres when he is asked to walk 10, “it’s because
for him or for her this is “nothing”. And with serenity, “he or she can give his or
her coat when asked for his or her tunic”. This is the secret of Christian benevolence
that always goes together with meekness”: it is “all”, it is Jesus Christ:
“A
Christian is a person who opens up his or her heart with this spirit of benevolence,
because he or she has “all”: Jesus Christ. The other things are “nothing”. Some are
good, they have a purpose, but in the moment of choice he or she always chooses “all”,
with that meekness, that Christian meekness that is the sign of Jesus’ disciples:
meekness and benevolence. To live like this is not easy, because you really do receive
slaps! And on both cheeks! But a Christian is meek, a Christian is benevolent: he
or she opens up his or her heart. Sometimes we come across these Christians with little
hearts, with shrunken hearts…. This is not Christianity: this is selfishness, masked
as Christianity”.
“A true Christian” – the Pope continued – “knows how to solve
this bi-polar opposition, this tension that exists between “all” and “nothing”, just
as Jesus has taught us: “First search for God’s Kingdom and its justice, the rest
comes afterwards”.
“God’s Kingdom is “all”, the other is secondary. And all
Christian errors, all the Church’s errors, all our errors stem from when we say “nothing”
is “all”, and to “all” we say it does not count… Following Jesus is not easy, but
it’s not difficult either, because on the path of love the Lord does things in such
a way that we can go forward; it is the Lord himself who opens up our heart”.
This
is what we must pray for – the Pope said – “when we are confronted with the choice
of the slap, the coat, the 100 kilometres”, we must pray the Lord to “open up our
heart” so that “we are benevolent and meek” . We must pray so that we do not “fight
for small things, for the “nothings” of daily life”.
“When one takes on an
option for “nothing”, it is from that option that conflicts arise in families, in
friendships, between friends, in society. Conflicts that end in war: for “nothing”!
“Nothing” is always the seed of wars. Because it is the seed of selfishness. “All”
is Jesus. Let us ask the Lord to open up our heart, to make us humble, meek and benevolent
because we have “all” in Him; and let’s ask him to help us avoid creating everyday
problems stemming from “nothing”.