In his homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta, His Holiness Pope Francis reminded that “God takes the first step towards us and loves us because He is compassionate and merciful, despite our indifference.” The Pontiff said that the Apostle John explains “how God manifests His love in us.” “Let us love one another, because love is of God,” John writes. His Holiness Pope Francis called this the mystery of love: “God loved us first. He took the first step.” God loved us, he said, even though we “don’t know how to love” and “need God’s caresses in order to love.” His Holiness Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel (Mk 6:34-44) about the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, and on the First Reading, taken from the First Letter of John (4:7-10).
As reported by Vatican news, Reflecting on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, His Holiness Pope Francis said Jesus fed the crowd out of compassion. The Pontiff remarked that “God’s heart, Jesus’ heart, was moved when he saw these people, and he could not remain indifferent. Love is restless. Love does not tolerate indifference; love is compassionate. But love means putting your heart on the line for others; it means showing mercy.”
His Holiness Pope Francis said God’s love always comes first and is compassionate and merciful. The Pontiff said it is true that the opposite of love is hate, but that many people are not aware of “a conscious hate”. His Holiness Pope Francis concluded saying that “The more-common opposite of the love of God – of God’s compassion – is indifference. ‘I’m satisfied; I lack nothing. I have everything. I’ve assured my place in this life and the next, since I go to Mass every Sunday. I’m a good Christian. But leaving the restaurant, I look the other way.’ Let’s reflect on this: Confronted with God who takes the first step, is compassionate, and is merciful, many times our attitude is indifference. Let us pray to the Lord that He heal humanity, starting with us. May my heart be healed from the sickness of the culture of indifference.”
