Holy Father Pope Francis while addressing the faithful gathered at Casa Santa Marta for the Holy Mass focused on the liturgical reading that narrates the stoning of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr. His Holiness Pope Francis highlighted that a true prophet is he who is capable of weeping for his people who do not heed him. Holy Father reflected on the liturgical reading of the day in which Stephen accused the people, the elders and the scribes of being stiff-necked people who always oppose the Holy Spirit, and just like their ancestors did, they persecute the prophets.
As reported by Vatican Radio, Holy Father Pope Francis remarked that “ Those people did not have open hearts, they did not want to listen to Stephen and they did not remember the history of Israel. Just like their ancestors persecuted the prophets, those elders and scribes who were so infuriated rushed upon Stephen, threw him out of the city and began to stone him. When the prophet speaks the truth and touches the heart, or the heart opens or becomes stone, anger and persecutions are unleashed, that’s how life ends for the prophet”. Further, His Holiness added, “A true prophet is he who not only speaks the truth, but is capable of weeping for his people who turn away from the truth. A true prophet is he who is capable of weeping for his people but at the same time of saying strong things in a direct way.”
His Holiness Pope Francis concluded his homily by reminding that “The Church needs prophets. What’s more: it needs each of us to be prophets, not critics.”
