To base one's life "on the rock of God" and on the "concreteness" of acting and giving oneself, rather than "on appearances or vanity" or on the corrupt culture of "recommendations". This is the indication that Pope Francis suggested - during the Mass celebrated at Santa Marta on Thursday, 6 December - for living the Advent journey coherently.

Simple and challenging guidelines at the same time, which the Pontiff drew from the readings of the day, in which there are three significant groups of opposing words: "saying and doing", "sand and rock", "high and low".

Regarding the first group - "saying and doing" - the Pontiff immediately recalled the words of Matthew's Gospel (7:21): "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of the Father". And he explained: 'One enters the kingdom of heaven, one matures spiritually, one goes forward in the Christian life by doing, not by saying'. In fact, 'saying is a way of believing, but sometimes very superficial, halfway': as when 'I say I am a Christian but I don't do the things of a Christian'. It is a sort of 'making up', because 'just saying, is a trick', it is 'saying without doing'.

Instead, "the proposal of Jesus is concreteness". And so, "when someone approached and asked for advice", he proposed "always concrete things". Moreover, the Pope added, "the works of mercy are concrete". And again: "Jesus did not say: 'But go to your home and think of the poor, think of the prisoners, think of the sick': no. Go: visit them'.

Here is the contrast between doing and saying. Necessary to highlight because 'many times we slip, not only personally but socially, into the culture of saying'. In this regard, Francis pointed to an unfortunately widespread practice, that of the 'culture of recommendations'. It happens, for example, that for a competition at university "one who has almost no merit" is chosen over many good professors; "and if you ask: 'But why this one? And these other good ones?" - 'Because this one was recommended by a cardinal, you know... the big fish...'". This is the Pope's comment: 'I don't want to think bad, but under the table of a recommendation there is always an envelope'. This is just one example of the prevalence of 'saying': 'it's not the merits, it's not the doing that gets you ahead, no: it's the saying. Making up your life'. And it is precisely 'one of the contradictions that today's liturgy teaches us: to do, not to say'. Even, the Pope explained in closing this first part of the reflection, "Jesus advises" to "do without saying: when you give alms, when you pray... secretly, without saying it. Do, not say".

The second comparison refers to an image used by Jesus in the Gospel: 'a wise man builds his house on rock, not on sand'. The parable has its own evidence: 'The sand is not solid. And a storm, winds, rivers, many things, rain bring down a house built on sand. Sand is a weak concreteness'. The Pontiff explained: "Sand is the consequence of saying: I make myself up, as a Christian, I build a life but without foundations. Vanity, vanity is saying many things, or making myself appear without foundation, on sand'. Instead, one must 'build on rock'. In this regard, the Pope invited us to grasp the beauty of the first reading of the day, taken from Isaiah (26:1-6), where we read: "Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord is an eternal rock".

It is a closely related juxtaposition between saying and doing, because 'many times, he who trusts in the Lord does not appear, is not successful, is hidden... but is steadfast. He does not have his hope in saying, in vanity, in pride, in the ephemeral powers of life", but he trusts in the Lord, "the rock". Francis explained: 'The concreteness of the Christian life makes us go forward and build on that rock which is God, which is Jesus; on the solidity of divinity. Not on appearances or vanity, pride, recommendations.... No. Truth."

Finally the "third group", where the concepts of "high and low" are confronted. It is again the passage from Isaiah that guides the meditation: "Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord is an everlasting rock, for he has brought down those who dwell on high, he has overthrown the lofty city, he has razed it to the ground. The feet trample it down: they are the feet of the oppressed, the footsteps of the poor'. It is a passage, the Pontiff noted, that recalls the 'song of Our Lady, of the Magnificat: the Lord raises up the humble, those who are in the concreteness of every day, and brings down the proud, those who have built their lives on vanity, pride... these do not last'. And the expression, Francis emphasised, "is very strong, even in the Magnificat we use 'has overthrown', and even stronger: that great beautiful city is trampled underfoot. By whom? By the feet of the oppressed and the steps of the poor". That is, the Lord 'exalts the poor, exalts the lowly'.

The category of 'high and low', the Pope added in comment, is also used by Jesus, for example, when he 'speaks of Satan: "I have seen Satan fall from heaven". And it is the expression of a "definitive judgement on the proud, on the vain, on those who boast of being something but are pure air".

Concluding his homily, Francis invited us to accompany the Advent season with reflection on "these three groups of words that contrast one with the other. Say or do? Am I a Christian of saying or doing? Sand and rock: do I build my life on the rock of God or on the sand of worldliness, of vanity? High and low: am I humble, do I always try to go from the bottom, without pride, and thus serve the Lord?". It will help to answer such questions; and, he added, also to take the Gospel of Luke and pray "with Our Lady's song, with the Magnificat, which is a summary of this message today".

[Pope Francis, S. Marta homily, in L'Osservatore Romano 06/12/2018]

Forgers & Co: as if we did not exist

(Mt 7:15-20)

«By their fruits you will know them [...] so every good tree bears good fruit, but the dead tree bears bad fruit» (Mt 7:16-17).

As in the time of Jesus, even today there are heralds announcing all kinds of messages.

Even in the narrow ecclesial domain, it is often not easy to evaluate the various interpretations.

From the earliest times the Master distinguished himself because He did not impose a strict selection among his followers: the field of Love is that of Freedom.

The richness of the vital wave of the Father remains exuberant everywhere.

In fact, the Lord himself favored the universal character of the calling... by Name.

Yet, in spite of the wide-meshed welcome, in today’s Gospel passage He seems very concerned.

Indeed, from the early Church it became necessary to resort to principles of simple understanding of the spirits.

Elements of discernment still essential, to protect the weakest: those who have a «good» character and roots but risk being plagiarized by opportunists.

The theme recurs in all times: the wise guide does not underestimate the disciple, doesn’t inoculate him fears of not being up to the task; he values and does not discard what the same disciple loves.

He does not ask him to immediately annihilate the "defects" but makes them his travel companions and participants in the realization.

In this way, the believer’s soul assumes its ‘overview’, takes breath, conquers more complete balance, is realized according to its own Calling. Which does not claim to make every heart a stranger to itself: in every story there is a secret to be found, and characteristic one.

Spiritual guidance according to Christ will not impose to make everyone look like his favorite models, so he will not make us rigid [in danger that any adversity will break us].

And when we are not underestimated, we will feel adequate - at the height that belongs to us: the fruits will bloom spontaneously.

«A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a dead tree make good fruit» (v.18).

Whoever is happy does Good.

«Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside are ravening wolves» (v.15).

Disguises of holiness are a serious pitfall: they extinguish our signature; distinctive and creative identity.

One can almost describe them as real masters, because they resemble and seem similar to the authentic ones. In reality they scourge the soul with thoughts and gestures that do not belong to us.

Instead, it is worth looking at the roots, more than the leaves: first the sap flowing into the trunk, only then the number and conspicuousness of the fruit.

Our vocation is stimulated and accompanied and stems from a desire, a voice and an image of the soul that acts as a guide.

Manipulators tend to replace their suggestion to ours, very personal.

The «false prophets» (v.15) do not start towards the future, from the intimate Source of the person. They always go in search of a confirmation of their own.

As if we do not exist.

To internalize and live the message:

What do you think of wolves in angelic garb?

Do roughnesses close or expand your discoveries? Or do they guide you to compromise with the forces in the field?

[Wednesday 12th wk. in O.T. June 26, 2024]

Counterfeiters & Co: as if we did not exist

(Mt 7:15-20)

«By their fruits you will know them [...] so every good tree bears good fruit, but the dead tree bears bad fruit» (Mt 7:16-17).

As in the time of Jesus, even today there are auctioneers who announce all kinds of messages.

Even in the narrow ecclesial domain, it is often not easy to evaluate the various interpretations.

Generally speaking, we can say that the Pontiffs warn us both against 'cheap' proposals of salvation [Pope Benedict], and against the mannerist exercise of an empty spirituality, which tends to seek consensus - typical of those who 'stroke the sheep' [Pope Francis].

But from the earliest times the Master distinguished himself because he did not impose a strict selection among his followers: the field of Love is the field of Freedom.

The richness of the Father's life-wave remains exuberant everywhere.

I remember from personal experience that in the time of John Paul II the criteria of discernment for the access of candidates to seminary life were in fact rather wide-ranging; then perhaps there was a canonical tightening, which however did not produce pastoral results.

Indeed, the Lord himself favoured the universal character of the call... by Name.

And yet, despite the wide-ranging reception, in today's Gospel passage He seems quite concerned.

Indeed, since the early Church it was necessary to resort to principles of elementary understanding of spirits.

Elements of discernment that are still essential, to protect the weakest people: those who have 'good' character and roots but risk being plagiarised by opportunists.

The theme recurs throughout: the wise guide does not underestimate the pupil; he does not inoculate him with fears of not being up to scratch. He values and does not discard what the disciple loves.

He does not ask him to immediately defeat the "faults" but makes them his fellow travellers and participants in the realisation.

In this way, the believer's soul assumes its "overview", takes breath, conquers more complete equilibrium; it realises itself according to its own Calling. Which does not pretend to make every heart stronger than it is, or estranged from itself: there is a secret to be found in every affair, and it is characteristic.

Spiritual guidance according to Christ will not demand that all pupils resemble his favourite models, so he will not make us rigid [in the danger that any contrariety will break us].

And when we are not underestimated, we will feel adequate - at the height that belongs to us: fruit will flourish.

"A good tree cannot make bad fruit, nor a dead tree make good fruit" (v.18).

He who is happy does Good.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inside are ravening wolves" (v.15).

Disguises of holiness are a serious pitfall: they extinguish our signature; distinctive and creative identity.

The needs that matter would never be ours [in any case, everything would be number and stock - indeed, chaff and fodder].

They can almost be described as masters, because they resemble and seem similar to the authentic ones. In reality they scourge the soul with thoughts and gestures that do not belong to us.

Conforming to their usual concert (or newsletter). Distant from our Calling and the unprecedented personal way of being in the field. This is the point.

They flatter everyone, but they already know everything. And it is noticeable that they only demand to be considered.

They ceaselessly point the way, but always remembering a past (even a recent past), to chronicle it.

Or a glamorous future; today dehumanising it.

In this way, they have their heads full of thoughts and wind, advocating disembodied, abstract paths, not cast upon nature, person and its rhythm.

They lull and caress, or rather scold harshly - accusing everyone - but they take away the sting that corresponds and belongs to us.

An infallible test to recognise them is to test them on public and private relations, on false prestige, on the renunciation of rapacity and celebrity; on the love of power even over the thoughts of others.

Beware of forgers who manifest excellent intentions, and then impose at least a few postures on people that make them feel inadequate.

Inside their festival is the enslavement of a mysticism set up pro domo sua [only in favour of one's own cause], falsified upstream.

Instead, it is worth taking care of the roots, more than the leaves: first of all the sap that flows within the trunk, only then the number and conspicuousness of the fruits.

Our vocation is stimulated and accompanied and stems from a desire, a voice and an image of the soul that acts as a guide.

Manipulators tend to substitute their suggestion for our own, very personal one.

The "false prophets" (v.15) do not start towards the future from the intimate source of the person, but always seek confirmation of their own. 

As if we did not exist.

To internalise and live the message:

What do you think of wolves in angelic robes? Do roughnesses close or expand your discoveries? Or do they guide you to compromise with the forces at work?

Snake charmers

What forms do false prophets take?

They are like "snake charmers", i.e. they take advantage of human emotions to enslave people and lead them where they want to go. How many children of God are enticed by the flattery of the pleasure of a few moments, which is mistaken for happiness! How many men and women live as if enchanted by the illusion of money, which in reality makes them slaves of profit or petty interests! How many live thinking they are self-sufficient and fall prey to loneliness!

Other false prophets are those 'charlatans' who offer simple and immediate solutions to suffering, remedies that turn out, however, to be completely ineffective: how many young people are offered the false remedy of drugs, of 'disposable' relationships, of easy but dishonest earnings! How many more are ensnared in a completely virtual life, where relationships seem easier and faster only to turn out to be dramatically meaningless! These swindlers, who offer things without value, instead take away what is most precious such as dignity, freedom and the ability to love. It is the deception of vanity, which leads us to look like peacocks... only to fall into ridicule; and from ridicule there is no turning back. No wonder: the devil, who is "a liar and the father of lies" (Jn 8:44), has always presented evil as good and false as true, in order to confuse the human heart. Each of us, therefore, is called to discern in our own heart and examine whether we are threatened by the lies of these false prophets. It is necessary to learn not to stop at the immediate, superficial level, but to recognise what leaves a good and more lasting impression within us, because it comes from God and is truly for our good.

[Pope Francis, Message for Lent 2018].

Saviour on the cheap?

Is the humanity of our time still waiting for a Saviour? There is a feeling that many regard God as unrelated to their own interests. They apparently have no need of Him; they live as if He did not exist and, worse, as if He were an "obstacle" to be removed in order to realise themselves. Even among believers, we are sure, some allow themselves to be lured by alluring chimeras and distracted by misleading doctrines that propose illusory shortcuts to happiness. And yet, despite its contradictions, its anxieties and its dramas, and perhaps precisely because of these, humanity today seeks a path of renewal, of salvation, it seeks a Saviour and awaits, sometimes unconsciously, the advent of the Saviour who renews the world and our lives, the advent of Christ, the one true Redeemer of man and of all mankind. Of course, false prophets continue to propose a 'cheap' salvation, which always ends up generating bitter disappointments. The very history of the last fifty years demonstrates this search for a 'cheap' Saviour and highlights all the disappointments that have ensued. It is the task of us Christians to spread, with the testimony of our lives, the truth of Christmas, which Christ brings to every man and woman of good will. Being born in the poverty of the crib, Jesus comes to offer to all that joy and peace which alone can fill the expectation of the human soul.

[Pope Benedict, General Audience 20 December 2006]

Is the humanity of our time still waiting for a Saviour? One has the feeling that many consider God as foreign to their own interests. Apparently, they do not need him. They live as though he did not exist and, worse still, as though he were an "obstacle" to remove in order to fulfil themselves. Even among believers - we are sure of it - some let themselves be attracted by enticing dreams and distracted by misleading doctrines that suggest deceptive shortcuts to happiness.

Yet, despite its contradictions, worries and tragedies, and perhaps precisely because of them, humanity today seeks a path of renewal, of salvation, it seeks a Saviour and awaits, sometimes unconsciously, the coming of the Saviour who renews the world and our life, the coming of Christ, the one true Redeemer of man and of the whole of man.

Of course, false prophets continue to propose a salvation "at a cheap price", that always ends by producing searing disappointments.

The history of the past 50 years itself demonstrates this search for a Saviour "at a cheap price" and highlights all the disappointments that have derived from it. It is the task of us Christians, with the witness of our life, to spread the truth of Christmas which Christ brings to every man and woman of good will.

Born in the poverty of the manger, Jesus comes to offer to all that joy and that peace which alone can fulfil the expectations of the human soul.

[Pope Benedict, General Audience 20 December 2006]

Spiritual life needs enlightenment and guidance. This is why Jesus, in founding the Church and sending the Apostles into the world, entrusted them with the task of teaching all nations, as we read in the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 28:19-20), but also with the task of "preaching the Gospel to the whole creation", as the canonical text of Mark's Gospel says (Mk 16:15). St Paul also speaks of the apostolate as "enlightening everyone" (Eph 3:9).

But this work of the evangelising and teaching Church belongs to the ministry of the Apostles and their successors and, in a different capacity, to all the members of the Church, to continue forever the work of Christ the "one Master" (Mt 23:8), who brought to humanity the fullness of God's revelation. There remains the need for an interior Master, who makes the teaching of Jesus penetrate the spirit and heart of mankind. It is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus himself calls the "Spirit of truth", and whom he promises as the One who will guide into all truth (cf. Jn 14:17; 16:13). If Jesus said of Himself: "I am the truth" (Jn 14:6), it is this truth of Christ that the Holy Spirit makes known and spreads: "He will not speak of Himself, but will tell all that He has heard . . . he will take of mine and proclaim it to you" (Jn 16:13-14). The Spirit is Light of the soul: "Lumen cordium", as we invoke it in the Pentecost Sequence.

2. The Holy Spirit was Light and inner Master for the Apostles who had to know Christ in depth in order to fulfil their task as his evangelisers. He was and is so for the Church, and, in the Church, for believers of all generations, and especially for theologians and teachers of the Spirit, for catechists and leaders of Christian communities. It has been and is also for all those who, within and outside the visible confines of the Church, wish to follow God's ways with a sincere heart, and through no fault of their own find no one to help them decipher the riddles of the soul and discover the revealed truth. May the Lord grant all our brothers and sisters - millions and indeed billions of men - the grace of recollection and docility to the Holy Spirit in moments that can be decisive in their lives.

For us Christians, the intimate teaching of the Holy Spirit is a joyful certainty, founded on Christ's word about the coming of the 'other Paraclete', whom - he said - 'the Father will send in my name. He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have spoken to you" (John 14:26). "He will guide you into all truth" (Jn 16:13).

3. As is clear from this text, Jesus does not entrust his word only to the memory of his hearers: this memory will be assisted by the Holy Spirit, who will continually revive in the apostles the memory of events and the sense of the mysteries of the Gospel.

In fact, the Holy Spirit guided the Apostles in the transmission of the word and life of Jesus, inspiring both their oral preaching and writings, as well as the writing of the Gospels, as we have seen in the catechesis on the Holy Spirit and Revelation.

But it is still He who gives the readers of Scripture the help to understand the divine meaning included in the text of which He Himself is the inspirer and main author: He alone can make known "the depths of God" (1 Cor 2:10), as they are contained in the sacred text; He who was sent to instruct the disciples on the teachings of their Master (cf. Jn 16:13).

[Pope John Paul II, General Audience 24 April 1991]

Let us listen to the Gospel passage and try to understand the guise such false prophets can assume.

They can appear as “snake charmers”, who manipulate human emotions in order to enslave others and lead them where they would have them go. How many of God’s children are mesmerized by momentary pleasures, mistaking them for true happiness! How many men and women live entranced by the dream of wealth, which only makes them slaves to profit and petty interests! How many go through life believing that they are sufficient unto themselves, and end up entrapped by loneliness!

False prophets can also be “charlatans”, who offer easy and immediate solutions to suffering that soon prove utterly useless. How many young people are taken in by the panacea of drugs, of disposable relationships, of easy but dishonest gains! How many more are ensnared in a thoroughly “virtual” existence, in which relationships appear quick and straightforward, only to prove meaningless! These swindlers, in peddling things that have no real value, rob people of all that is most precious: dignity, freedom and the ability to love. They appeal to our vanity, our trust in appearances, but in the end they only make fools of us. Nor should we be surprised. In order to confound the human heart, the devil, who is “a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44), has always presented evil as good, falsehood as truth. That is why each of us is called to peer into our heart to see if we are falling prey to the lies of these false prophets. We must learn to look closely, beneath the surface, and to recognize what leaves a good and lasting mark on our hearts, because it comes from God and is truly for our benefit.

[Pope Francis, Message for Lent 2018]

Unconventional firmness

(Mt 7:6.12-14)

The Good News is Pearl (v.6). Gem that should not be dispensed to those who would use it only as a tool.

There are in fact those who maintain the ancient competitive, pagan mentality - sometimes even aiming to support their own conceptions of domination with beautiful manners [which sooner or later let the masks fall off]. Someone perhaps with the cover of the same Word of God, but without the leap of Faith.

It doesn’t allow to overturn values.

There are many tricks that the opportunists of religion can put in place to attract the eye and exploit the naivety of the little ones - then turn against them.

The simple always have their hearts in hands, and spontaneously trust their neighbour.

Faced with old and new barkers, the sons of God often give to everything in gold value - but sometimes being plagiarized and exploited.

And we know the mechanisms of sects, which guarantee happiness, closing the adepts in mental cages.

The Lord doesn’t promise us new life... only when we have finally dispelled our doubts, definitively solved problems, realized dreams and ambitions.

Christ doesn’t wish to deprive sensitive souls to the point of expropriating them and not making aware, involving in useless battles.

The Father wants everyone to express their creative abilities, the different characters that inhabit - in which the personal deep son’s nature takes shape.

Traits all to be discovered. And that has its meaning with regard to Salvation.

Unfortunately, here and there come out very dangerous individuals and real agencies of manipulation, which alienate people.

We recognize them by now: in those who presume of themselves and are so swollen that them will never pass through a small door (vv.13-14) .

In this way they will never trace new roads. And unfortunately, they’ll do everything so that others do not explore them too.

Evaluation must be constantly exercised, lest the false saints [into whom as inexperienced people we risk falling] succeed in defiling our person and Calling.

So - as Pope Francis pointed out - «Lamb... with Christian cunning. Lamb, not fool».

As Pope Benedict said: «there is always the temptation to interpret religious practice as a source of privilege or security».

So, how to identify those who intend to dehumanize us, closing ourselves in obsessive comparisons - using us only for profit - everywhere offering themselves with apparently very high arguments?

On the basis of the 'past' or the 'future' [all of them], false guides force us to make war on ourselves - and criticize ourselves - instead of multiplying our energies and going on to explore other worlds.

Following external models is to throw our Pearl before the «swines» (v.6): to throw ourselves at the feet of those who - in order to steal our souls - have no respect, judge us, scold us, and devalue us.

While the little ones live in the present. Unconventional firmness.

[Tuesday 12th wk. in O.T.  June 25, 2024]

Unconventional Firmness

(Mt 7:6, 12-14)

Are we, too, after a beautiful Eucharistic liturgy, ready to trample, condemn, bite?

Do we lock ourselves in one-sided congregations that make us feel strong, turning the Gospel proclamation inside out?

It means that we live in fear of not being personally equal to the situation; thus we allow ourselves to be stepped on by someone or by the herd.

We need to change the register, starting from the soul and the innermost dynamics of approach.

The Glad Tidings is Pearl (v.6). Gem that should not be dispensed to those who would only use it as a tool.

Indeed, there are those who maintain the old competitive, pagan mentality - sometimes to the point of aiming to support their own conceptions of dominance, with fine manners [which sooner or later drop their masks].

Some perhaps under cover of the Word of God itself.

At the time of Jesus, for example, the same Law (written and oral) ended up being used not to favour the welcoming of the marginalised and needy, but to accentuate detachment and ghettoisation.

Situations that did not value personal gifts, and were even leading to the collapse of the least protected sections of the population.

In short, the alliance between throne and altar - instead of strengthening the sense of community - was being used to accentuate hierarchies. As a weapon that legitimised a whole mentality of exclusions, and confirmed the imperial logic of divide and rule.

Instead, Jesus wants to return to the Father's Dream: the ineliminable one of fraternity, the only seal to salvation history.

That is why his non-avoidable criterion is to link the Word of God to the life of the people and of each person; thus overcoming divisions.

The apostle must do what he must - not the façade "perfection" that conceals problems.

In this way, the disciple must be authentically motivated, not have a double life; nor be sent to dissipate energy.

For ourselves, too, it is imperative that we beware of the cheaters and patsies of the soul.

We must take the leap of Faith - which does not allow for the reversal of values.

There are many tricks that the opportunists of religion can pull to attract the eye and exploit the naivety of the little ones - then turn against them.

The simple ones always have their hearts in their hands, and spontaneously trust their neighbour.

In the face of old and new barkers, the children of God often take everything for granted - sometimes allowing themselves to be plagiarised and exploited, or entangled in clubs with shady public and private dealings.

Recently, even the Holy See has been forced to take very severe disciplinary measures against marauders of the 'spirit' who advocate a false mystical discipline to the weak.

We know the mechanisms of sects, which guarantee happiness by locking adherents in mental cages.

The Lord does not promise us new life ... only when we have finally dispelled our doubts, definitively resolved problems, realised dreams and ambitions.

Christ does not wish to deprive sensitive souls to the point of dispossessing them and not making them aware, involving them in useless battles.

Nor does he admit that someone among his intimates may 'for good' attempt to deceive the uninformed, charming them with platitudes passed off as solemn truths. Carefully avoiding that they understand the Gospels, life today and their own souls; that they study, compare, update - and delve deeper into the issues.

The Father wants each one to express his or her own creative capacities, the different characters that dwell within him or her - in which the deep personal nature of a son takes shape, all to be discovered. And which has its own meaning, in order to Salvation.

Some groups emotivize the proposals with a barrage of old-fashioned or sophisticated ideas [all partial] - peppered with afterthoughts or practical activities, which deplete consciences.

Circles that take over the global existence, work, hopes and goods of the simple - even the young, and various gullible.

Unfortunately, dangerous individuals and veritable agencies of manipulation emerge here and there, with the aim of alienating people.

They float around exploiting the gratuitousness of the innocent who seek God, as well as the resources of the common good.

It is right to trust in women, men and groups, but there is devious (even spiritual) evil, which is murderous.

We recognise it now: in those who presume of themselves and are so puffed up that they will never pass through a loophole (vv.13-14) - so they will never chart new paths.

And sadly, he will do everything to ensure that others do not explore them too, exorcising them with à la page narratives or made-up slogans; imposing models; feeling themselves to be a privileged group or club.

By floating on the ignorance of the arguments, some may be able to maintain their fake prestige and satrap lifestyle.

Sometimes, however, masks fall off.

This happens e.g. when in difficulties, the herd of envious careerist businessmen in sheep's clothing (v.15), who know that they can more easily condition those who fall into a state of bewilderment and weakness - do not recover or accompany, but enjoy the spectacle, waiting for the ruin reserving the right to intimidate the unaccountable, adding evil to evil without a crumb of human pity.

Evaluation must be constantly exercised, lest the fake saints [into whom we risk falling as inexperienced ones] succeed in profaning our person and Calling.

So - as Pope Francis pointed out - 'Lamb... with Christian cunning. Lamb, not fool".

It is not others who must decide for us.

There are opportunists of religion who are willing to fill others' healthy hearts with disorders, for ideology and self-interest.

The early Christians understood well that faith in the victory of life over death is incompatible with attachment to the ephemeral or to any influence.

In this regard, the indirect testimony of Lucian of Samosata (125-192), author of satires against superstitions and credulity, among which he includes 'Christianity', is significant.

With light-hearted language, the author describes in 'The Death of Peregrinus' [De morte Peregrini, 13] the impact that faith had on the lives of the simple people of his time:

"Their first lawgiver persuades them that they are all brothers among themselves, and as they are converted, denying the Greek gods, they worship that crucified wise man and live according to his laws. For something they despise all goods equally and believe them to be common and do not care when they have them. Therefore, if a shrewd impostor arose among them who knew how to handle them well, he would immediately become rich, mocking these gullible and foolish people".

The challenge is open, because the same comparison can be transferred to diriment aspects - unfortunately also lacerating - of the inner life, when it is made tormenting and unclear in an artificial way.

Therefore, the 'narrow door' is not a passage reserved for a few 'integrities' or those elected to life; not infrequently not very genuine and committed to influence, disrupting the transparency of souls and things.

As Pope Benedict said, 'the temptation to interpret religious practice as a source of privilege or security is always lurking'.

So, how do we detect those who intend to dehumanise us, locking us into obsessive comparisons - using us only for trivial interest - wherever they put themselves with seemingly lofty arguments?

On the basis of the 'past' or the 'future' [all their own], the false guides force us to make war on ourselves - and criticise ourselves - instead of multiplying our forces, and going on to explore other worlds.

To follow external models is to throw our Pearl before the 'swine' (v.6): to throw ourselves at the feet of those who - in order to steal our souls - disrespect, judge, scold and devalue us.

While the little ones live in the present. Unconventional Firmness.

"Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able" (Lk 13: 23-24).

What does this "narrow door" mean? Why do many not succeed in entering through it? Is it a way reserved for only a few of the chosen?

Indeed, at close examination this way of reasoning by those who were conversing with Jesus is always timely: the temptation to interpret religious practice as a source of privileges or security is always lying in wait.

Actually, Christ's message goes in exactly the opposite direction: everyone may enter life, but the door is "narrow" for all. We are not privileged. The passage to eternal life is open to all, but it is "narrow" because it is demanding: it requires commitment, self-denial and the mortification of one's selfishness.

Once again, as on recent Sundays, the Gospel invites us to think about the future which awaits us and for which we must prepare during our earthly pilgrimage.

Salvation, which Jesus brought with his death and Resurrection, is universal. He is the One Redeemer and invites everyone to the banquet of immortal life; but on one and the same condition: that of striving to follow and imitate him, taking up one's cross as he did, and devoting one's life to serving the brethren. This condition for entering heavenly life is consequently one and universal.

In the Gospel, Jesus recalls further that it is not on the basis of presumed privileges that we will be judged but according to our actions. The "workers of iniquity" will find themselves shut out, whereas all who have done good and sought justice at the cost of sacrifices will be welcomed.

Thus, it will not suffice to declare that we are "friends" of Christ, boasting of false merits: "We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets" (Lk 13: 26).

True friendship with Jesus is expressed in the way of life: it is expressed with goodness of heart, with humility, meekness and mercy, love for justice and truth, a sincere and honest commitment to peace and reconciliation.

We might say that this is the "identity card" that qualifies us as his real "friends"; this is the "passport" that will give us access to eternal life.

Dear brothers and sisters, if we too want to pass through the narrow door, we must work to be little, that is, humble of heart like Jesus, like Mary his Mother and our Mother. She was the first, following her Son, to take the way of the Cross and she was taken up to Heaven in glory, an event we commemorated a few days ago. The Christian people invoke her as Ianua Caeli, Gate of Heaven. Let us ask her to guide us in our daily decisions on the road that leads to the "gate of Heaven".

[Pope Benedict, Angelus 26 August 2007]

The beatitudes pronounced so solemnly by Jesus stand, on the one hand, in antithesis to certain values that are instead honoured by the world and, on the other hand, in the perspective of a future and final fate, in which situations are reversed. They all stand or fall together; one cannot extract only one and cultivate it to the detriment of the others. All the saints have always been and are simultaneously, albeit to varying degrees, hungry and thirsty for justice, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for the sake of the gospel. And so must we also be. What is more, on the basis of this Gospel page, it is evident that Christian beatitude, as a synonym for holiness, is not divorced from an element of suffering or at least difficulty: it is not easy to be or to want to be poor, meek, pure; nor would one want to be persecuted, not even because of justice. But the kingdom of heaven is for the non-conformist (cf. Rom 12:2), and the words of St Peter apply to us as well: 'Blessed are you if you are reviled for the name of Christ, for the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God rest upon you.

Let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or evildoer. But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; rather let him glorify God for this name' (1 Peter 4:14-16). Indeed, our perspective is not short-term, but endless. Written for us are the enlightening words of the Apostle Paul: "The momentary, light burden of our tribulation procures for us an immeasurable and eternal amount of glory, because we do not fix our eyes on visible things, but on things invisible. Visible things are momentary, invisible things are eternal" (2 Cor 4:17-18).

[Pope John Paul II, at Verano 1 November 1980]