Pope Francis: Overcome prejudice, get involved in lives of others

Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis invites us to overcome prejudices and the fear of getting involved in the lives of others, and follow the example of Jesus who shares our wounds and heals our lives. Reflecting on the day's Gospel reading of the day during the Angelus, with pilgrims in St Peter's Square, the Pope spoke of how the Lord drew near to us, broke down every barrier, and touched our lives to heal them.

The day's Gospel reading tells of the encounter between Jesus and the man who had leprosy. Pope Francis noted that lepers were considered impure and, according to the Law, were excluded from every human, social and religious relationship. But Jesus allowed the man to draw near to Him, even to the point of extending His hand and touching him.

"This is how He fulfills the Good News. He proclaims: God drew near to our lives, He is moved to compassion because of the fate of wounded humanity and comes to break down every barrier that prevents us from being in relationship with Him, with others and with ourselves," the Pope said.

Pope Francis said this episode, highlights two "transgressions". In spite of the Law, the leper comes of his isolation to goes to Jesus.

The man's illness was considered a divine punishment, but, "in Jesus, he is able to see another aspect of God: not the God who punishes, but the Father of compassion and love who frees us from sin and never excludes us from His mercy."

The sick man is thus able to emerge from his isolation because in Jesus he finds God who shares his pain.

"The second transgression is that of Jesus: even though the Law prohibited touching lepers, He is moved, extends His hand and touches him to cure him. He does not limit himself to words, but touches him," he explained.

To touch with love, means "to establish a relationship, to enter into communion, to become involved in the life of another person even to the point of sharing their wounds."

With that gesture, he said, Jesus reveals that God is not indifferent, does not keep Himself at a "safe distance": "He draws near out of compassion and touches our life to heal it with tenderness."

This, the Pope said, "is God's 'style': closeness, compassion, and tenderness: the 'transgression' of God. In this sense, He is a great transgressor."

Decrying the fact that in the world today, so many of our brothers and sisters suffer marginalisation and exclusion because of social stigmas, the Pope invited the faithful to break these barriers and get involved with their lives.

He said Jesus tells us that God "is not an idea or an abstract doctrine but the One who contaminates Himself with our human woundedness and is not afraid to come into contact with our wounds."

The Pope urged Christians to go beyond selfishness, calculations or fears that prevent them from getting involved with the sufferings of others. Instead, he said, let us ask the Lord for the grace to find the courage to emerge from our isolation and self-commiseration, and open our hearts to "a love that goes beyond conventions, that overcomes prejudices and the fear of getting involved with the lives of others."

Pope Francis concluded, "Let us learn to be 'transgressors' like these two: like the leper, and like Jesus."

Following the Angelus, Pope Francis thanked all those who work to help migrants. He also recalled the feast of Sts Cyril and Methodius, greeted engaged couples and those in love for St Valentine's Day, and noted the beginning of Lent this coming Wednesday.

"I always look with gratitude at the efforts of those who work for migrants...I thank all of them for what they do for migrants."

The Holy Father noted in particular the decision by civil authorities in Colombia last week to implement a temporary protection statute that grants legal status to more than one million Venezuelans who are currently in the country after having fled social troubles in their homeland.

"This is not being done by a very rich, overly-developed country," but by a nation with its own problems in terms of finances, development, poverty, and almost 70 years of guerrilla warfare. In the face of huge numbers of migrants, however, the nation "had the courage to look at those migrants and make this statute," the Pope said, adding, "Thank you, Colombia, thank you!"

Pope Francis also noted the feast of Sts Cyril and Methodius on Sunday. Recognised as evangelizers of the Slavic peoples, the two holy brothers were proclaimed co-patrons of Europe (together with St Benedict of Nursia) by Pope St John Paul II in 1980.

"I greet with affection all the communities living in the territories evangelized by the sainted brothers," the Pope said. "May their intercession help us to find new ways to communicate the Gospel… and may their intercession lead to an increase among the Christian churches of the desire to journey toward full unity, while respecting differences."

The Holy Father added, "I cannot fail today, St Valentine's Day, to think about and address my best wishes to engaged couples and those who are in love." He said, "I accompany them with my prayers and I bless them."

Looking ahead to the season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, 17 February, Pope Francis said: "It will be a favourable time to give a sense of faith and hope to the crisis we are going through."

He concluded his greetings by recalling three words he emphasized in his explanation of Sunday's Gospel reading: "I don't want to forget the three words that help us understand God's 'style': closeness, compassion, tenderness."

Pope Francis invited the faithful to say them together, before wishing them a happy Sunday.

Watch the Angelus on the Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bU6F9KFIxw