The path to peace in the world, in our societies and also in our families is that of humility, gentleness, and patience. This was the heart of the message of His Holiness Pope Francis in his homily at Mass at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. The Pontiff was reflecting on the day’s First Reading, where St. Paul from the solitude of his imprisonment was writing to the Ephesians a true “hymn to unity”, recalling the “dignity of vocation”.
As reported by Vatican news, The Pontiff observed that Paul’s solitude would accompany him until his death in Rome, because Christians were “too busy” in their “internal struggles”. And before Paul, he said, Jesus Himself “asked for the grace of unity from the Father for all of us.” Yet, the Pope noted, today we are “used to breathing the air of conflict”. Every day, on the TV and in newspapers, we hear about conflicts and wars “one after the other”, “without peace, without unity”. Agreements made to stop conflicts, he said, are ignored, thus the arms race and preparation for war and destruction go ahead. His Holiness Pope Francis then encouraged all to adopt a behavior that is worthy of “the call” that is received, “with all humility, gentleness and patience”.
The Pontiff urged Christians to open their hearts and make peace in the world taking the path of the “three little things” – “humility, gentleness and patience”. He drew attention to the practical advice of Paul to “bear with one another in love”. His Holiness Pope Francis acknowledged that it’s easy not as there is always a judgement, a condemnation which leads to separation and distances. He invited Christians to start putting into practice humility, gentleness and patience saying this is the path to making peace and consolidating unity.
