Today God continues to weep - with fatherly and motherly tears - before calamities, wars unleashed to worship the god of money, so many innocents killed by bombs, a humanity that does not seem to want peace. It is a strong invitation to conversion that Francis re-launched in the Mass celebrated on Thursday morning, 27 October, in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta. An invitation that the Pontiff motivated by recalling that God became man precisely to weep with and for his children.

In the passage from Luke's Gospel (13:31-35) proposed by the liturgy, the Pope explained, "it seems that Jesus had lost his patience and also uses strong words: it is not an insult but it is not a compliment to say 'fox' to a person". To be precise he says to the Pharisees who told him about Herod: "Go and tell that fox". But already "on other occasions Jesus spoke harshly": for example, he said "perverse and adulterous generation". And he called the disciples 'hard-hearted' and 'foolish'. Luke reports the words in which Jesus makes a real 'summary of what is to come: "it is necessary for me to go on my way because it is not possible for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem"'. Basically, the Lord "says what will happen, he prepares to die".

But "then immediately Jesus changes tones," Francis pointed out. "After this loud outburst," in fact, "he changes his tone and looks at his people, he looks at the city of Jerusalem: 'Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you!'" He looks at "the closed Jerusalem, which has not always received the messengers of the Father". And "Jesus' heart begins to speak with tenderness: 'Jerusalem, how often have I wanted to gather your children like a hen her chicks!'". Here is "the tenderness of God, the tenderness of Jesus". That day he "wept over Jerusalem". But "that weeping of Jesus," the Pope explained, "is not the weeping of a friend before the tomb of Lazarus. That is the weeping of a friend before the death of another"; instead "this is the weeping of a father who weeps, it is God the Father who weeps here in the person of Jesus".

"Someone said that God became man so that he could weep for what his children had done," said the Pontiff. And so "the weeping before the tomb of Lazarus is the weeping of a friend". But what Luke recounts 'is the weeping of the Father'. In this regard, Francis also recalled the attitude of the 'father of the prodigal son, when his youngest son asked him for the inheritance money and went away'. And "that father is sure, he did not go to his neighbours and say: 'look what happened to me, but this poor wretch what he did to me, I curse this son! No, he did not do this'. Instead, said the Pope, "I am sure" that that father "went off crying alone".

True, the Gospel does not reveal this detail,' Francis continued, 'but it tells us that when the son returned he saw the father from afar: this means that the father continually went up to the terrace to watch the path to see if the son was coming back'. And 'a father who does this is a father who lives in weeping, waiting for his son to return'. Precisely this is "the weeping of God the Father; and with this weeping the Father recreates in his Son all creation".

"When Jesus went with the cross to Calvary," the Pontiff recalled, "the pious women wept and he said to them: 'No, do not weep over me, weep for your children'". It is the "weeping of a father and mother that God continues to do even today: even today in the face of calamities, of the wars that are waged to worship the god money, of so many innocents killed by the bombs that the worshippers of the idol money throw down". And so 'even today the Father weeps, even today he says: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, my children, what are you doing?"'. And "he says this to the poor victims and also to the arms dealers and to all those who sell people's lives".

In conclusion Francis suggested that we "think that God became man in order to weep. And it will be good for us to think that our Father God weeps today: he weeps for this humanity that does not understand the peace he offers us, the peace of love".

[Pope Francis, homily at St Martha's, in L'Osservatore Romano 28/10/2016]

Narrow door: not because oppressive

(Lk 13:22-30)

The meaning of the first question is: «Is Salvation exclusive?» (v.23). Of course not - and not even despotic. But it’s not enough to declare oneself "Friends".

Half a century after the crucifixion of Jesus, the first signs of relaxation began to appear in the communities.

The privileged were already away from “home” [vv.25ss].

Their story warns against the illusion of feeling "elected". And it questions believers. How can we get on ourselves on the right path?

Occasion to understand if we are on the steps that really belong to us is the constant revision of the relationship with the "inadequate" Person of Christ [the «narrow Door»: v.24].

According to the Master, one doesn’t become "better" by following ostentatious habitual clichés, poorly convinced and fulfilled in routine.

In short, who works many things for God (v.26) and not for the brothers - nor even realizes that they exist - in reality does not honor the Father.

Those who do not "deflate", not only lack humility to become servants, but also do not cross the interstices of the walls in which the Spirit wedges.

However, we still wonder surprised how the Father can neglect his own intimates who have so much believed in Him, and even prefer those distant, coming from it’s not well known where.

Maybe they loved like Him. They didn’t have a "correct" relationship with God, but a right relationship with others, yes.

It’s in their hearts that they have come to know the Lord. Personally. And by transmigrating, they have accomplished their Exodus.

Moving directly to the goal, they were interested in the fruit: listening, compassion, generous sharing of goods - instead of the many leaves.

With the eyes of the soul, in these people completely devoid of spiritual presumption, the perception of the inner orientations has overcome the thoughts and the idols of the custom at hand.

They are those who have never considered themselves too great.

It applies for us: not feeling excellent and not having pretensions is by Christ evaluated much more than the papers in order.

He defines these as «makeers of vain things, doers of dead things» [Lk 13,27; the Greek text has a Semitic background of the kind: Ps 6,9 Hebrew text].

He refers to the ‘lukewarm’ people that go on by inertia and still participate in external manifestations with extreme superficiality.

They make number, but personally they do not set anything in motion. They didn’t pass through the «tight Door» which is Jesus himself.

Forcing him to say: «I do not know ‘from’ where you are» (vv.25-27).

True disciples participate in the Banquet without pretense: they have not fled the world, they have struggled (v. 24) to make themselves able to love. They have compromised themselves.

In this way were able to meet the deep states of themselves and accompany the eccentricities of others, recovering the opposites (v.30).

«Narrow Door»: not because oppressive.

[Wednesday 30th wk. in O.T.  October 30, 2024]

Narrow door: not because it is oppressive

(Lk 13:22-30)

The meaning of the first question is: "Is Salvation exclusive?" (v.23). Of course not - and not oppressive either.

But it is not enough to declare oneself 'Friends' [here and there a mannered proclamation, which has become a license of immunity to lead a double life].

Half a century after the crucifixion of Jesus, the first signs of slackness, vexation and confusion are beginning to appear in the communities.

In fact, it is precisely those who are far off, new and rejected by the veterans, who manifest that they are believers who recognise the Lord more than the habitual members of the community (v.25).

Some of them, now inauthentic practitioners of his Table and Word (v.26).

How is it that the indulgent Son of Lk ends up slamming the door in the face of his old devotees?

Because they have become bogus mannerists, theatrics like those of ancient religion, manipulators of the Exodus image of God.

Now incapable [v.24 Greek text] of orienting themselves according to the Father's plan, and despotic, only because clothed in lengthy ritual practices. External styles, fulfilled by custom and to the detriment of the full life - that is, made available to the brothers.

The privileged are already outside the House [vv.25ff].

Their story warns against the illusion of feeling 'chosen', and being on the right path.

In short, we must avoid posing as (Christological) phenomena for routine - cheap - rather than in the service of humanisation.

An opportunity to understand whether we are on the steps that really belong to us is the constant review of the relationship with the "inadequate" Person - of Christ (the "Narrow Door": v.24).

According to the Master, one does not become "better" by tracing ostentatious habitual clichés, poorly convinced and fulfilled by tran tran tran.

Is there, then, a critical point in his clemency? Of what kind is his inflexibility? Why is the dividing line in his circle?

Those who do many things for God (v.26) and not for the brethren - or do not even realise they exist - do not actually honour the Father.

Those who do not 'deflate', not only lack the humility to become servants, but also do not cross the gaps of the stone walls (or rubber walls, more diplomatically) into which the Spirit is wedged.

We still wonder, however, surprised, how can the Father neglect precisely His own who have believed in Him so much, and even prefer those who are far away, from who knows where.

Perhaps they loved as He did.

They spontaneously brought about that change of course and destiny that the Church institution [reflection of the Kingdom] has always been called upon to embody.

And how did they find their way through?

They did not have a 'right' relationship with God - probably - but a right relationship with others, yes.

It was in their inner selves that they came to know the Lord. Personally - even those who have not even heard of Him directly. 

And by transmigrating, they have fulfilled their Exodus.

Going directly to the goal, they have been interested in the fruit: listening, compassion, generous sharing of goods - instead of the many leaves (of banner, ritual and formula).

With the eyes of the soul, in these people completely devoid of spiritual arrogance, the perception of inner guidance has conquered the thoughts and idols of custom at hand.

They are those who have never considered themselves too great.

Not feeling excellent and not having pretensions is and will be valued far more than the right observance and the exact banner.

Fatuous characteristics, even (!) - which the new Rebbe attributes to the very habitués who seem to have the right stuff.

He calls them "doers of vain things, makers of dead things" [Lk 13:27; the Greek text has a Semitic undertone of the kind: Ps 6:9 Hebrew text].

It refers to the lukewarm ones who go on out of inertia and still participate in outward manifestations with extreme superficiality.

They make a body, but personally they do not set anything in motion.

The Lord does not want to humiliate, but to invite us to rethink the motives and modalities of our following.

Receiving his Bread means accepting to become food for the life of the world.

Accepting his Word is a gesture that denotes an ardent desire to live it, not a habit, nor a way of letting oneself be appreciated and slalom.

Yet Christ is compelled to say: "I do not know "from" where you are" (vv.25-27).

While some, who have not even known the Lord, have mysteriously passed through the 'narrow gate' that is Jesus himself - without realising it.

Without the hypocrisy of considering themselves great Apostles, those who know how to be in the world.

Their secret is that of a convinced experience and fraternal practice that has thinned out the spiritual deception of (theatrical) parentheses in society.

They have not taken part in (sacred) catwalks and then spent their lives pointing fingers, mortifying, making everyone's existence infirm, and especially the infirm.People who have dedicated themselves to the good - therefore not drowned in the stale anguish of local devout and moralistic cultures. Perhaps stuck for fear of contamination.

Souls who have not lived under a cloak of morbid obsession, typical of those who fixate on the behaviour of others [and in an unexpressed way cultivate it within].

True disciples participate in the banquet because they have not fled the world, they have struggled (v. 24) to make themselves capable of love.

They have compromised with the vile limitations of the existential peripheries, their own and their brothers'.

They have dedicated their existence to social inclusion and the acceptance of feelings, to recognising each person's legitimate desire for life.

They have uprooted themselves from the idea that religious affiliation offered a licence of immunity (or even sacralisation) to lukewarmness.

With all their imperfections, they longed for happiness, not the banal cheerfulness that covers the nothingness of choices.

They are already complete persons, who have also bridged our existence, and therefore 'entered' under the light of God.

They have had respect for their infallible Core and the nature of the things of the world, which they call to Communion.

If they have been women and men of prayer, they have listened to the voice of their own essence.

They have been able to welcome any departing state of mind (and intuition) as a guest of regard. They have noticed.

They perceived and expressed, not just thought and stifled.

And as they dug in, they asked themselves: what does this joy or sadness mean to me? Why my calms and anxieties?

In this way they learnt to meet themselves in everything, and to accompany the eccentricities of others, recovering their opposites (v.30).

Angels who remained in tune with the Mystery of God that lurks in the folds of personal history and the history of others, day by day - in the genius of time.

They have grasped God's Secret because they have not overlooked anything as if it were a deception, nor have they silenced their anxieties.

The Lord's teaching transformed their existence: knowledge of God became compassion and empathy.

Thus they did not mistake indifference for peace, opportunism for quietness, and the failure of the "half-breeds" for tranquillity.

They have not been so presumptuous as to consider themselves entitled. They have not called the subordination of the last and the excluded a victory.

"Narrow door": not because it was oppressive.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Today's liturgy presents to us enlightening yet at the same time disconcerting words of Christ. 

On his last journey to Jerusalem someone asked him: "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And Jesus answered: "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]

5. Together with all Christ's disciples, the Catholic Church bases upon God's plan her ecumenical commitment to gather all Christians into unity. Indeed, "the Church is not a reality closed in on herself. Rather, she is permanently open to missionary and ecumenical endeavour, for she is sent to the world to announce and witness, to make present and spread the mystery of communion which is essential to her, and to gather all people and all things into Christ, so as to be for all an 'inseparable sacrament of unity' ".

74. "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Mt 7:21). The consistency and honesty of intentions and of statements of principles are verified by their application to real life. The Council Decree on Ecumenism notes that among other Christians "the faith by which they believe in Christ bears fruit in praise and thanksgiving for the benefits received from the hands of God. Joined to it are a lively sense of justice and a true neighbourly charity".

103. I, John Paul, servus servorum Dei, venture to make my own the words of the Apostle Paul, whose martyrdom, together with that of the Apostle Peter, has bequeathed to this See of Rome the splendour of its witness, and I say to you, the faithful of the Catholic Church, and to you, my brothers and sisters of the other Churches and Ecclesial Communities: "Mend your ways, encourage one another, live in harmony, and the God of love and peace will be with you ... The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Cor 13:11,13).

[Pope John Paul II, Ut Unum sint]

Today’s Gospel passage urges us to meditate on the topic of salvation. St Luke the Evangelist tells us that while Jesus was travelling to Jerusalem, he was approached by a man who asked him this question: “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” (Lk 13:23). Rather than giving a direct answer, Jesus shifts the issue to another level in an evocative way, which the disciples don’t understand at first: “strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (v. 24). Using the image of a door, he wants his listeners to understand that it is not a question of numbers — how many will be saved —, how many is not relevant, but rather, it is important for everyone to know the way that leads to salvation. 

This way means entering through a door. But where is the door? Who is the door? Jesus himself is that door. He says so in the Gospel of John: “I am the door” (10:9). He leads us to communion with the Father, where we find love, understanding and protection. But why is this door narrow, one might ask? Why does he say it is narrow? It is a narrow door not because it is oppressive, but because it demands that we restrain and limit our pride and our fear, in order to open ourselves to Him with humble and trusting hearts, acknowledging that we are sinners and in need of his forgiveness. This is why it is narrow, to limit our pride, which swells us. The door of God’s mercy is narrow but is always open to everyone! God does not have preferences, but always welcomes everyone, without distinction. A narrow door to restrain our pride and our fear; a door open wide because God welcomes us without distinction. And the salvation that He gives us is an unending flow of mercy that overcomes every barrier and opens surprising perspectives of light and peace. The door is narrow but always open wide: do not forget this.

Once more, Jesus extends a pressing invitation to us today to go to Him, to pass through the door of a full, reconciled and happy life. He awaits each one of us, no matter what sins we have committed, to embrace us, to offer us his forgiveness. He alone can transform our hearts, He alone can give full meaning to our existence, giving us true joy. By entering Jesus’ door, the door of faith and of the Gospel, we can leave behind worldly attitudes, bad habits, selfishness and narrow-mindedness. When we encounter the love and mercy of God, there is authentic change. Our lives are enlightened by the light of the Holy Spirit: an inextinguishable light!

I would like to propose something to you. Let us think now for a moment, in silence, of the things that we have inside us which prevent us from entering the door: my pride, my arrogance, my sins. Then, let us think of the other door, the one opened wide by the mercy of God who awaits us on the other side to grant us forgiveness.

The Lord offers us many opportunities to be saved and to enter through the door of salvation. This door is an occasion that can never be wasted: we don’t have to give long, erudite speeches about salvation, like the man who approached Jesus in the Gospel. Rather, we have to accept the opportunity for salvation. Because at a certain moment, the master of the house will rise and shut the door (cf. Lk 13:25), as the Gospel reminded us. But if God is good and loves us, why would he close the door at a certain point? Because our life is not a video game nor a television soap opera. Our life is serious and our goal is important: eternal salvation.

Let us ask the Virgin Mary, the Gate of Heaven, to help us seize the opportunities the Lord gives us in order to cross the threshold of faith and thus to enter a broad path: it is the path of salvation that can embrace all those who allow themselves to be enraptured by love. It is love that saves, the love that already on this earth is a source of happiness for all those who, in meekness, patience and justice, forget about themselves and give themselves to others, especially to those who are most weak.

[Pope Francis, Angelus 21 August 2016]

From the inside and in domestic

(Lk 13:18-21)

The two parables were set forth at a time of doubt about the Master’s proposal and the mission of his intimates.

A small group of faithful without social connection, could say something to the world?

Despite the commitment, women and men are struggling in all their ancient problems; they feel the weight of suffering and anguish: at first glance everything looks the same (disconnected, chaotic, fragmentary).

What is the point of the small hope of a few believers without a flashy heritage, for the cultural and civic concert - today global?

It seems that in the reality of the cosmos nothing changes... but the Granule has been thrown into the furrow of the earth.

It seems that human pasta is the same as always, but a Yeast is renewing it all, from within.

Jesus was like a seed planted in darkness, nothing sensational. And thrown like in the vegetable garden of the house [v.19 Greek text].

However, the mustard bean has an incredible and intrinsic evolutionary force.

Of course, the moment of growth ends with a very simple tree - a shrub like many, subjected to the weather... yet able to give rest and shelter to anyone who passes (v.19).

Then it’s enough to put a pinch of yeast in the mass to make it completely ferment.

The yeast doesn’t stand out, it’s hidden: it disappears inside. And at that time everything was kept in a simple home bread chest.

Deepening life in the Spirit, we repeatedly realize that we have only seen in part: there is still much [more] to discover - in relation to the development of ordinary life.

Despite the megalomaniacs, the dimensions of the Kingdom of God, the universe of the soul, and the Mission, are not immediately and completely verifiable.

We have to enter a process, personal and all hidden - therefore authentically springy, convinced, and paradoxically wide open.

In fact, even «when the work is done, withdrawing is the Way of Heaven» [Tao Tê Ching, ix].

On the horizon of every journey there is always a new plant, another ‘genesis’, a different flowering in the time of the seasons; an unprecedented effervescence, to be introduced into the ancient arrangement already capitalized.

But seed and ferment work unknown.

Lack of spotlight, poor situation, smallness... are not obstacles to growth, but the condition.

What seems nothing becomes what Creation awaits.

It’s seen hardly or at all - but giving time without forcing and hastening, it gets the cordial and domestic evolution that doesn’t clash with God and the leasts.

To internalize and live the message:

What sensational cunning tried to destroy your land?

What conformity made you pale?

What subdued and calibrated Word on you has not produced hustle and bustle, but has regenerated your passion, and has expanded life?

[Tuesday 30th wk. in O.T.  October 29, 2024]

From within and in the domestic

(Lk 13:18-21)

The two parables were expounded at a time of doubt about the Master's proposal and the mission of his people.

Could a small group of believers with no social connection say anything to the world?

In spite of their commitment, women and men struggle with all their old problems, they feel the weight of suffering and anguish: at first glance everything seems the same, disconnected, chaotic, fragmentary.

What sense does the small hope of a few believers without a conspicuous heritage have for the cultural and civic concert - today global -?

It seems that in the reality of the cosmos nothing changes... but the Grain has been cast into the furrow of the earth.

It seems that the human dough is the same as ever, but a Leaven is renewing it all, from within.

Jesus was like a seed planted in the darkness, nothing sensational. And sown as in the kitchen garden [v.19 Greek text] where no sensational parades are cultivated, but simple potatoes, salad, aubergines, cucumbers, tomatoes - normal things, no big deal.

The mustard seed, however, has an incredible and intrinsic evolutionary power.

Of course, the moment of growth ends with a very simple sapling - a shrub like so many, subjected to the elements... yet able to give rest and shelter to anyone who passes by (v.19).

This brings the final miracle: 'a form of life with the flavour of the Gospel [...] that goes beyond the barriers of geography and space. Here [St Francis] declares blessed the one who loves the other when he is far from him, as much as if he were next to him'.

Although taken from expressions of the First Testament, in the features described by Lk the evangelical figure of the birds of the air illustrates "the essence of an open fraternity, which allows one to recognise, appreciate and love each person beyond physical proximity, beyond the place in the world where he or she was born or where he or she lives" [cf.]

The experience of the Saint of Assisi with a "heart without boundaries, capable of going beyond distances" introduces a logic of dialogue that avoids "any form of aggression or contention and also of living a humble and fraternal submission" - without ever imposing a "dialectical war" or "doctrines" [FT, 3-4].

So it is enough to put a pinch of yeast in the mass to make it fully ferment.

The leaven does not stand out, it is hidden: it disappears inside. And at that time everything was stored in a simple household cupboard.

As we delve deeper into life in the Spirit, we repeatedly realise that we have only seen in part: there is still much (more) to be discovered - in relation to the development of ordinary life.

So we guess it is basically within everyone's grasp; certainly not mysterious, nor can it be acquired in any of the disciplines of the arcane.

In short, megalomaniacs notwithstanding, the dimensions of the Kingdom of God, the universe of the soul, and the Mission are not something that can be verified immediately and completely.

One must enter into a process, personal and all-concealed - for this is authentically emergent, convinced, and paradoxically wide-open.

Indeed, even 'when the work is done, retreating is the Way to Heaven' [Tao Tê Ching, ix].

On the horizon of every path, there is always a new plant, another 'genesis', a different blossoming in the time of the seasons; a new effervescence, to be introduced into the already capitalised old arrangement.

This hidden radiance and vitality of the intuitive and missionary heart, does not belong to 'cultural' or collective rituals, nor to side duties.

Artificial passes make us prisoners of conditioning that blunt perception and dampen the mission for which we were born.

On the contrary, breaking out of the herd that gives birth to the usual pale (only drugged) models of interpretation will be an opportunity to discover something new.

We will also astound ourselves with our own intimate propulsive capacities - accompanied only by the Friend who sees in the secret.

Seed and ferment work unknown.

Lack of spotlight, poor situation, littleness... these are not obstacles to growth, but the condition.

What seems nothing becomes what Creation awaits.

It is barely visible or not at all - but by giving time without forcing and rushing, it achieves the friendly and domestic evolution that does not clash with God and the least.

The Church to come will not be intrusive: it will not demand adherence [on pain of exclusion].

That is why the dynamism of growth will be out of scale, but only in terms of human and hospitable capacities (v.19), not in terms of excited magnificence.

Deprived of clamorous, resounding and sought-after magnificence, the new divine Bride will be caught in the attitude of fullness. But only because it will correspond to the project of complete life that dwells in our breasts, and we mysteriously sense it to be ours.

We will understand: it will make everyone feel good.

The insecure will become decisive, the loser will be transformed by Grace into the wise. We will understand that to accept the Word and correspond to one's personal Vocation will not be terrifying, but regenerating.

Those who do not wrap themselves up but will shift their thoughts, point everything, will bring out their essence.

We will realise that our being is already calibrated on innate, subdued, personally-matched plots.

In the Spirit and in real life, we will discover the qualitative and special Magnificent that the more conformist and hasty, less dialogic or capable of listening, do not even remotely imagine could excel.

To internalise and live the message:

What sensational cunning has attempted to destroy your land?

What conformity - even of clan - has made you pale?

What subdued Word calibrated to you did not produce turmoil, but regenerated your passion, and expanded your life?

Being Christians, we know that the future is ours and the tree of the Church is not a tree that is dying but a tree that constantly puts out new shoots. Therefore we have a reason not to let ourselves be upset, as Pope John said, by the prophets of doom who say: well, the Church is a tree that grew from the mustard seed, grew for two thousand years, now she has time behind her, it is now time for her to die. No. The Church is ever renewed, she is always reborn. The future belongs to us. Of course, there is a false optimism and a false pessimism. A false pessimism tells us that the epoch of Christianity is over. No: it is beginning again! The false optimism was the post-Council optimism, when convents closed, seminaries closed and they said “but... nothing, everything is fine!”.... No! Everything is not fine. There are also serious, dangerous omissions and we have to recognize with healthy realism that in this way things are not all right, it is not all right when errors are made. However, we must also be certain at the same time that if, here and there, the Church is dying because of the sins of men and women, because of their non-belief, at the same time she is reborn. The future really belongs to God: this is the great certainty of our life, the great, true optimism that we know. The Church is the tree of God that lives for ever and bears within her eternity and the true inheritance: eternal life.

[Pope Benedict at the Roman Seminary, 8 February 2013]

2. Jesus says: "The Kingdom of God is like a man who sows a seed in the earth: sleep or wake, night or day, the seed germinates and grows; how, he himself does not know. For the earth produces spontaneously, first the stalk, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. When the fruit is ready, immediately you put your hand to the sickle, because the harvest has come" (Mk 4:26-29). So the Kingdom of God grows here on earth, in human history, by virtue of an initial sowing, that is, of a foundation, which comes from God, and of a mysterious working of God himself, which continues to cultivate the Church down the centuries. In God's work for the Kingdom, the sickle of sacrifice is also present: the development of the Kingdom is not achieved without suffering. This is the meaning of the parable in Mark's Gospel.

3. We also find the same concept in other parables, especially those gathered in Matthew's text (Mt 13:3-50).

"The kingdom of heaven," we read in this Gospel, "can be compared to a mustard seed, which a man takes and sows in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown, it is larger than all the other seeds and becomes a tree, so that the birds of heaven nestle among its branches" (Mt 13:31). This is the growth of the kingdom in the "extensive" sense.

Another parable, on the other hand, shows its growth in an "intensive" or qualitative sense, comparing it to the yeast, which a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour so that it all fermented" (Mt 13:32).

[Pope John Paul II, General Audience 25 September 1991]