Pope says a true Christian bears humiliation with joy, patience

September 27, 2013 - The capacity to bear humiliation with joy and patience is the test of a true Christian, Pope Francis said on Friday. Speaking in his homily at the morning Mass in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta residence in the Vatican, the Pope reflected on day’s Gospel where Jesus asks His disciples who, they think, He is, and He immediately reminds them of his passion and death. The Pope said “everybody wants to rise again, but not all want to do it on the path of the Cross.” Instead, they complain about injustices or insults faced, just the opposite of what Jesus Himself did and asks us to do. The Pope warned against the temptation of a certain “spiritual wellbeing”, like that of the rich young man who wanted to follow Jesus only up to a certain point. In such cases, the Holy Father explained, what is lacking is the final anointing of a Christian – the cross of humiliation. Jesus humbled Himself up to death, the Pope said, adding, this is the touchstone of our Christian reality. The test of a true Christian is one who has the capacity to carry with joy and patience one’s humiliation, the Pope stressed. (Source: Vatican)