Jul 2, 2025 Written by 

Making way, not 'using'

"Service" and "gratuitousness" are the two key words around which Pope Francis built his meditation during Mass celebrated at Santa Marta on the morning of Tuesday, 11 June. These are the fundamental characteristics that must accompany Christians "along the way," said the Pontiff, along that path, that "journey" that always distinguishes life, "because a Christian cannot remain stationary."

The teaching comes directly from the Gospel: it is there that we find — as highlighted by the passage from Matthew proposed by the liturgy of the day (10:7-13) — Jesus' instructions to the apostles who are being sent out. A mission which, said the Pope, is also that of "the successors of the apostles" and of "every Christian, if sent". Therefore, first and foremost, "the Christian life is about moving forward, always. Not standing still." And in this journey, what does the Lord recommend to his followers? "Heal the sick, preach that the kingdom of heaven is near, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons." In other words, "a life of service."

This is the first fundamental point highlighted by the Pope: "Christian life is about serving." And it is very sad, he added, to see "Christians who, at the beginning of their conversion or their awareness of being Christians, serve, are open to serving, serve the people of God," and then, instead, "end up serving themselves. This hurts so much, so much to the people of God." The Christian vocation, therefore, is to 'serve' and never to 'use'.

Continuing his reflection, Francis then moved on to a concept that, he emphasised, "goes right to the heart of salvation: 'Freely you have received, freely give'. Christian life is a life of gratuitousness." From Jesus' recommendation to the apostles he sent out, it is clear that "salvation cannot be bought; salvation is given to us freely. God saved us, saves us freely. He does not make us pay'. This is, the Pope explained, a principle 'that God has used with us' and that we must use 'with others'. And it is 'one of the most beautiful things' to know 'that the Lord is full of gifts to give us' and that only one thing is asked of us: 'that our hearts be open'. As in the Lord's Prayer, where 'we pray, we open our hearts, so that this gratuitousness may come. There is no relationship with God outside of gratuitousness'.

Considering this cornerstone of Christian life, the Pontiff then highlighted some possible and dangerous misunderstandings. Thus, he said, "sometimes, when we need something spiritual or a grace, we say: 'Well, now I will fast, I will do penance, I will do a novena...'". All this is fine, but "let us be careful: this is not to 'pay' for grace, to 'buy' grace; this is to open your heart so that grace may come." Let us be clear, in fact: "Grace is free. All of God's gifts are free. The problem is that the heart shrinks, closes and is incapable of receiving so much love, so much free love." Therefore, "everything we do to obtain something, even a promise — 'If I have this, I will do that' — is to enlarge the heart, not to bargain with God... No. With God, there is no bargaining." With God, "only the language of love and of the Father and of gratuitousness" is valid.

And if this is true in our relationship with God, it is also true for Christians — 'Freely you have received, freely give' — and, Francis emphasised, especially for the 'pastors of the Church'. Grace "cannot be sold," he reiterated, adding: "It hurts so much when you find pastors who do business with God's grace: 'I will do this, but this costs so much, that costs so much...'. And God's grace remains there and salvation is a business." All this, he strongly reiterated, "is not the Lord. The Lord's grace is free and you must give it freely." Unfortunately, he explained, in the spiritual life there is "always the danger of slipping into payment, always, even when talking to the Lord, as if we wanted to give the Lord a bribe." But the relationship with the Lord cannot go down "that road."

Therefore, the Pope reiterated, no to dynamics such as, 'Lord, if you do this for me, I will give you that'; but, if necessary, yes to a promise that with it one's heart will be enlarged 'to receive' what 'is free for us'. And "this relationship of gratuitousness with God is what will then help us to have it with others, both in Christian witness and in Christian service and in the pastoral life of those who are shepherds of God's people."

'Along the way': this is how the Pope summed up his reasoning at the end of his homily. 'Christian life,' he said, 'is about going. Preach, serve, do not 'make use of'. Serve and give freely what you have received freely'. And he concluded: "May our life of holiness be this opening of the heart, so that God's gratuitousness, God's graces that are there, free, that He wants to give, may reach our hearts."

[Pope Francis, St. Martha, in L'Osservatore Romano, 11 June 2019]

13 Last modified on Wednesday, 02 July 2025 04:22
don Giuseppe Nespeca

Giuseppe Nespeca è architetto e sacerdote. Cultore della Sacra scrittura è autore della raccolta "Due Fuochi due Vie - Religione e Fede, Vangeli e Tao"; coautore del libro "Dialogo e Solstizio".

Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? (Pope Benedict)
Non abbiamo forse tutti in qualche modo paura - se lasciamo entrare Cristo totalmente dentro di noi, se ci apriamo totalmente a lui – paura che Egli possa portar via qualcosa della nostra vita? Non abbiamo forse paura di rinunciare a qualcosa di grande, di unico, che rende la vita così bella? Non rischiamo di trovarci poi nell’angustia e privati della libertà? (Papa Benedetto)
For Christians, volunteer work is not merely an expression of good will. It is based on a personal experience of Christ (Pope Benedict)
Per i cristiani, il volontariato non è soltanto espressione di buona volontà. È basato sull’esperienza personale di Cristo (Papa Benedetto)
"May the peace of your kingdom come to us", Dante exclaimed in his paraphrase of the Our Father (Purgatorio, XI, 7). A petition which turns our gaze to Christ's return and nourishes the desire for the final coming of God's kingdom. This desire however does not distract the Church from her mission in this world, but commits her to it more strongly [John Paul II]
‘Vegna vêr noi la pace del tuo regno’, esclama Dante nella sua parafrasi del Padre Nostro (Purgatorio XI,7). Un’invocazione che orienta lo sguardo al ritorno di Cristo e alimenta il desiderio della venuta finale del Regno di Dio. Questo desiderio però non distoglie la Chiesa dalla sua missione in questo mondo, anzi la impegna maggiormente [Giovanni Paolo II]
Let our prayer spread out and continue in the churches, communities, families, the hearts of the faithful, as though in an invisible monastery from which an unbroken invocation rises to the Lord (John Paul II)
La nostra preghiera si diffonda e continui nelle chiese, nelle comunità, nelle famiglie, nei cuori credenti, come in un monastero invisibile, da cui salga al Signore una invocazione perenne (Giovanni Paolo II)
"The girl is not dead, but asleep". These words, deeply revealing, lead me to think of the mysterious presence of the Lord of life in a world that seems to succumb to the destructive impulse of hatred, violence and injustice; but no. This world, which is yours, is not dead, but sleeps (Pope John Paul II)
“La bambina non è morta, ma dorme”. Queste parole, profondamente rivelatrici, mi inducono a pensare alla misteriosa presenza del Signore della vita in un mondo che sembra soccombere all’impulso distruttore dell’odio, della violenza e dell’ingiustizia; ma no. Questo mondo, che è vostro, non è morto, ma dorme (Papa Giovanni Paolo II)
Today’s Gospel passage (cf. Lk 10:1-12, 17-20) presents Jesus who sends 72 disciples on mission, in addition to the 12 Apostles. The number 72 likely refers to all the nations. Indeed, in the Book of Genesis 72 different nations are mentioned (cf. 10:1-32) [Pope Francis]
L’odierna pagina evangelica (cfr Lc 10,1-12.17-20) presenta Gesù che invia in missione settantadue discepoli, in aggiunta ai dodici apostoli. Il numero settantadue indica probabilmente tutte le nazioni. Infatti nel libro della Genesi si menzionano settantadue nazioni diverse (cfr 10,1-32) [Papa Francesco]

Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 1 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 2 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 3 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 4 Due Fuochi due Vie - Vol. 5 Dialogo e Solstizio I fiammiferi di Maria

duevie.art

don Giuseppe Nespeca

Tel. 333-1329741


Disclaimer

Questo blog non rappresenta una testata giornalistica in quanto viene aggiornato senza alcuna periodicità. Non può pertanto considerarsi un prodotto editoriale ai sensi della legge N°62 del 07/03/2001.
Le immagini sono tratte da internet, ma se il loro uso violasse diritti d'autore, lo si comunichi all'autore del blog che provvederà alla loro pronta rimozione.
L'autore dichiara di non essere responsabile dei commenti lasciati nei post. Eventuali commenti dei lettori, lesivi dell'immagine o dell'onorabilità di persone terze, il cui contenuto fosse ritenuto non idoneo alla pubblicazione verranno insindacabilmente rimossi.