In his homily today at Mass in the Santa Marta house, Pope Francis commented on the day's gospel, which tells of the widow of Naim, whose son Jesus resurrected. But Christ did more, the Pope observed: he showed himself close, sharing in the drama experienced by the woman. "He was close to the people," Bergoglio said. "God close who can understand the heart of the people, the heart of his people. Then he sees that procession, and the Lord draws near. God visits his people, in the midst of his people, and drawing near. Closeness. That is God's way. And then there is an expression that is repeated in the Bible, so many times: 'The Lord was moved with great compassion'. The same compassion that, the Gospel says, he had when he saw so many people like sheep without a shepherd. When God visits his people, he comes close to them and feels compassion: he is moved.The Lord is deeply moved, as he was before the tomb of Lazarus", as the Father is moved "when he saw the prodigal son come home".Christ shows us the way forward: 'Proximity and compassion'. Not to stay far away and preach, like "the doctors of the law, the scribes, the Pharisees", but to come close, "to suffer with the people".

Pope Francis wanted to highlight another passage from the Gospel: "The dead man sat down and began to speak, and he - Jesus - returned him to his mother.When God visits his people, he gives them back their hope. Always. One can preach the Word of God brilliantly: there have been many good preachers in history. But if these preachers have failed to sow hope, that preaching is useless. It is vanity'. For this reason, the Pontiff concluded, addressing an invitation to the faithful, we must "ask for the grace that our witness as Christians may be a witness bearer of God's visitation to his people, that is, of closeness that sows hope".

[Editor "Tempi", 16.9.2014.

https://www.tempi.it/papa-francesco-non-belle-prediche-ma-vicinanza-e-compassione-come-quelle-che-ebbe-gesu-con-la-vedova-di-naim/]