Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel of the day (Luke 7:11-17) during his homily at Casa Santa Marta, which recounts the raising of the son of the widow of Nain. He presented Jesus, the icon of the shepherd, whose authority came from his compassion expressed in meekness, tenderness, and closeness to the people. The Pope encouraged pastors to imitate Jesus in being near to people, not near to the powerful or ideologues whom, he says, “poison souls”.
As reported by Vatican news, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “What gave Jesus authority was that he spent most of his time on the road, touching, embracing, listening and looking at the people in the eye. He was near them. This is what gave him authority. Jesus taught the same thing that many others taught. It was how he taught that was different. Jesus was meek, and did not cry out. He did not punish the people. He never trumpeted the fact that he was the Messiah or a Prophet. In the Gospel, when Jesus was not with people, he was with the Father praying.” Further, His Holiness added, “Jesus was overcome with compassion for the widow. Jesus thought with his heart, which was not separated from his head. Then Jesus tenderly touches her and speaks to her, “Do not weep”. This is the icon of the pastor. The pastor needs to have the power and authority that Jesus had, that humility, that meekness, that nearness, the capacity to be compassionate and tender.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his homily by reminding how the shepherd (Jesus Christ) chooses silence when the Great Accuser accuses him through so many people. Jesus “suffers, offers his life, and prays”. “That prayer carried him even to the Cross, with strength; even there he had the capacity of drawing near to and healing the soul of the repentant thief.”
