Teresa Girolami
Teresa Girolami è laureata in Materie letterarie e Teologia. Ha pubblicato vari testi, fra cui: "Pellegrinaggio del cuore" (Ed. Piemme); "I Fiammiferi di Maria - La Madre di Dio in prosa e poesia"; "Tenerezza Scalza - Natura di donna"; co-autrice di "Dialogo e Solstizio".
Gratuitousness: the hallmark of the Kingdom proclaimed
In today’s Gospel, Jesus, seeing the large crowd following him, emphasises the need to pray that there may be more labourers in his harvest to proclaim the Kingdom and heal the sick, as a sign of gratuitousness.
In the Sources we find various passages referring to the proclamation of the Kingdom of God and its gratuitousness by Francis and his friars. We read, in fact:
“His words were not empty, but filled with the power of the Holy Spirit: they penetrated the depths of the heart and aroused great wonder in his listeners.
At the beginning of every sermon, he would greet the people with a wish for peace, saying:
«May the Lord give you peace!»
He had learnt this form of greeting through a revelation from the Lord.
Like the prophets, he proclaimed peace and preached salvation” (FF 1052).
But it is surprising to find episodes that highlight his utter selflessness, both received and given.
“Francis, a man of God, stripped of worldly possessions, devoted himself to divine worship and, no longer regarding his own interests, committed himself to serving God in every possible way.
Returning to the church of St Damian, on his way back into the city, he began to walk through the squares and streets, raising praises to the Lord.
As soon as he finished his praises, he set about obtaining the stones needed for the restoration of the church.
He would say: «Whoever gives me a stone shall receive a reward; whoever gives two stones, two rewards; whoever gives three, three rewards!» (FF 1420).
Furthermore: “One winter morning, whilst he was praying, clad in rags, his own brother, passing by, remarked ironically to a fellow townsman:
‘Tell Francis to sell you at least a penny’s worth of his sweat!’”
The man of God, upon hearing these mocking words, was seized with superhuman joy and replied in French:
«I will sell this sweat, and at a high price, to my Lord» (FF 1424).
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mt 9:36–10:8)
Franciscan Corpus Christi
Franciscan Most Holy Trinity
Franciscan PENTECOST. Gospel and Sources
Franciscan Ascension
Paraclete, Spirit of the Truth, Jesus’ Commandments, in Francis and Clare
Saint Francis, the caring Shepherd: the Gate, the People, the Word
Emmaus. Seeing and Believing with Francis and Clare. On a Pilgrimage
Franciscan Conversion: Revolution, of the most sinner
Franciscan Transfiguration: without applause
In the divine attitude justice is pervaded with mercy, whereas the human attitude is limited to justice. Jesus exhorts us to open ourselves with courage to the strength of forgiveness, because in life not everything can be resolved with justice. We know this (Pope Francis)
Nell’atteggiamento divino la giustizia è pervasa dalla misericordia, mentre l’atteggiamento umano si limita alla giustizia. Gesù ci esorta ad aprirci con coraggio alla forza del perdono, perché nella vita non tutto si risolve con la giustizia; lo sappiamo (Papa Francesco)
The Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy refers precisely to this Gospel passage to indicate one of the ways that Christ is present: "He is present when the Church prays and sings, for he has promised "where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them' (Mt 18: 20)" [Sacrosanctum Concilium, n. 7]
La Costituzione sulla Sacra Liturgia del Concilio Vaticano II si riferisce proprio a questo passo del Vangelo per indicare uno dei modi della presenza di Cristo: "Quando la Chiesa prega e canta i Salmi, è presente Lui che ha promesso: "Dove sono due o tre riuniti nel mio nome, io sono in mezzo a loro" (Mt 18, 20)" [Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7]
For Jesus we are not a "mass", a "multitude"! We are individual "persons" with an eternal value, both as creatures and as re-deemed persons! He knows us! He knows me, and loves me and gave himself for me! (Gal 2:20) [John Paul II]
Non siamo “massa”, “moltitudine”, per Gesù! Siamo “persone” singole con un valore eterno, sia come creature sia come persone redente! lui ci conosce! lui mi conosce, e mi ama e ha dato se stesso per me! (Gal 2,20) [Giovanni Paolo II]
The grain of wheat that "falls to the ground and dies" becomes the promise of bread (Pope John Paul II)
Il chicco di grano che “cade in terra e muore” diventa la promessa del pane (Papa Giovanni Paolo II)
The power of faith can move mountains (cf. Mt 17:20): the Lord can illuminate even the deepest darkness [Pope Benedict]
La forza della fede può spostare le montagne (cfr Mt 17,20): il Signore può illuminare anche la tenebra più profonda [Papa Benedetto]
By willingly accepting death, Jesus carries the cross of all human beings and becomes a source of salvation for the whole of humanity. St Cyril of Jerusalem commented: “The glory of the Cross led those who were blind through ignorance into light, loosed all who were held fast by sin and brought redemption to the whole world of mankind” (Catechesis Illuminandorum XIII, 1: de Christo crucifixo et sepulto: PG 33, 772 B) [Pope Benedict]
Accettando volontariamente la morte, Gesù porta la croce di tutti gli uomini e diventa fonte di salvezza per tutta l’umanità. San Cirillo di Gerusalemme commenta: «La croce vittoriosa ha illuminato chi era accecato dall’ignoranza, ha liberato chi era prigioniero del peccato, ha portato la redenzione all’intera umanità» (Catechesis Illuminandorum XIII,1: de Christo crucifixo et sepulto: PG 33, 772 B) [Papa Benedetto]
In the New Testament, it is Christ who constitutes the full manifestation of God's light [Pope Benedict]
Nel Nuovo Testamento è Cristo a costituire la piena manifestazione della luce di Dio [Papa Benedetto]
Faith opens us to knowing and welcoming the real identity of Jesus, his newness and oneness, his word, as a source of life, in order to live a personal relationship with him (Pope Benedict)
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