We need to look at our cities with a gaze of faith, which sees God dwelling in homes, on the streets and in the squares. God’s presence must be found, discovered. God does not hide himself from those who seek him with a sincere heart. Pope Francis on Twitter.
May we be sustained by the conviction that education bears within itself a seed of hope. We must move forward, all of us together, each as we are but always looking ahead to the building of a civilization of harmony and unity, in which there will be no room for the terrible pandemic of the throwaway culture…a new cultural and development model that respects and protects human dignity, while creating a global interdependence to bring communities and peoples together to care for our common home and to foster peace. Pope Francis at the Global Compact on Education, Oct. 18, 2
The present is a time for discernment in light of the principles of ethics and the common good, for the sake of the recovery desired by all…Christ urged all who heard Him, and ourselves today, not to stop at externals, but to discern sagely the signs of the times. To do so, two things are demanded, conversion and creativity. An ecological conversion is required to reconnect with the world around us. We are also called to be creative, devising fresh new ways to pursue the common good. And there needs to be the creativity of love, that inspires bold decisions, and can restore meaning to the present, in order to open it to a better future. Pope Francis to the European Forum
Jesus plants in our hearts the conviction that God is able to make everything work unto good, because even from the grave He brings life. He who rolled away the stone that sealed the entrance of the tomb can also remove the stones in our hearts…He did not abandon us. He visited us and entered into our situations of pain, anguish and death. His light dispelled the darkness of the tomb: Today He wants that light to penetrate even to the darkest corners of our lives. Today, as pilgrims in search of hope, we cling to you, Risen Jesus. We turn our backs on death, and open our hearts to you, for you are Life itself. Homily, Holy Saturday Easter Vigil, April 11, 2020
We are precious dust destined for eternal life. We are the dust of the earth, upon which God has poured out his heaven, the dust that contains his dreams. We are God’s hope, his treasure and his glory. If we live for fleeting worldly realities, then we spend our lives chasing after dust, moving backwards from life to ashes. But if we live to love and make God’s dream a reality, then we allow the fire of love to be kindled in our hearts. Only Jesus, who knows and loves our heart, can heal it. Lent is a time of healing. Homily, Ash Wednesday Mass
By being born in a manger, God himself launches the only true revolution that can give hope and dignity to the disinherited and the outcast: the revolution of love, the revolution of tenderness. From the manger, Jesus proclaims in a meek yet powerful way, the need for sharing with the poor as the path to a more human and fraternal world, in which no one is excluded or marginalized. Address, Dec. 14, 2019
“Listening is precisely the fundamental attitude of every person who wants to do something for others. But it must be done with an open mind and heart, without any prejudice. After listening comes dialoguing, which takes into account what reality is and seeking answers. And this dialogue starts with the values of the Gospel that Jesus taught, without imposing them dogmatically, but with dialogue and discernment.”
Our expectant waiting for Jesus requires vigilance in the form of marveling at God’s action, and at his surprises. Vigilance means paying attention to our neighbor in difficulty and allowing their need to draw us in, without waiting for him or her to ask us for help. May Mary, the Mother of hope, help us to turn our gaze towards the image of Jesus Christ, who draws all people to Him. Angelus Talk, Dec. 1, 2019
Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, & you will be faithful to your deepest self…Do not be afraid to set your sights higher, to allow yourself to be loved and liberated by God. Do not be afraid to let yourself to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Holiness does not make you less human, since it is an encounter between your weakness & the power of God’s grace.
Rejoice and Be Glad, Apostolic Exhortation
“True faith in the incarnate Son of God is inseparable from self-giving, from membership in the community, from service, from reconciliation with others. The Son of God, by becoming flesh, summoned us to the revolution of tenderness…Unless people find in the Church a spirituality which can offer healing and liberation, and fill them with life and peace, while at the same time summoning them to fraternal communion and missionary fruitfulness, they will end up by being taken in by solutions which neither make life truly human nor give glory to God.” The Joy of the Gospel
