Pope Francis’ Lenten message, released before Ash Wednesday, focuses on the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew’s words, “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (24:12). Here, His Holiness warned of the rise of false prophets.
(The full text is available at www.vaticannews.va.)
The above words of Christ, according to the Pope, “appear in Christ’s preaching about the end of time. They were spoken in Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives, where the Lord’s passion would begin.”
The Pope explains: “In reply to a question of the disciples, Jesus foretells a great tribulation and describes a situation in which the community of believers might well find itself: amid great trials, false prophets would lead people astray and the love that is the core of the Gospel would grow cold in the hearts of many.”
The Pope then points out the existence of “snake charmers” and “charlatans” that have caused many of us to live shallow and misguided lives:
“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!”
“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!”
Cold heart
The false prophets of our modern world, according to the Pope, have numbed our ability to care for others. He then speaks of signs that show that the love we have is cooling: “The rejection of God and his peace soon follows; we prefer our own desolation rather than the comfort found in his word and the sacraments.
“All this leads to violence against anyone we think is a threat to our own ‘certainties’: the unborn child, the elderly and infirm, the migrant, the alien among us, or our neighbor who does not live up to our expectations.
“Creation itself becomes a silent witness to this cooling of charity. The earth is poisoned by refuse, discarded out of carelessness or for self-interest. The seas, themselves polluted, engulf the remains of countless shipwrecked victims of forced migration. The heavens, which in God’s plan, were created to sing his praises, are rent by engines raining down implements of death.”
The evident signs of the lack of love, according to the Pope, are “selfishness and spiritual sloth, sterile pessimism, the temptation to self-absorption, constant warring among ourselves, and the worldly mentality that makes us concerned only for appearances, and thus lessens our missionary zeal.”
Prayer, almsgiving, and fasting
In the face of all the “snakecharmers” and “charlatans” we encounter in life, the Pope urges us to devote more time to prayer, to free ourselves from greed through almsgiving, and to indulge in fasting.
Prayer, His Holiness says, enables “our hearts to root out our secret lies and forms of self-deception, and then to find the consolation God offers. He is our Father and he wants us to live life well.”
On the other hand, “Almsgiving sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbour as a brother or sister. What I possess is never mine alone. How I would like almsgiving to become a genuine style of life for each of us!”
Almsgiving, the Pope says, is more relevant during the Lenten season, but more importantly, even during our daily encounters with those who need help: “When we give alms, we share in God’s providential care for each of his children. If through me God helps someone today, will he not tomorrow provide for my own needs? For no one is more generous than God.”
The Pope adds that fasting, on the other hand, “weakens our tendency to violence; it disarms us and becomes an important opportunity for growth.” It also “allows us to experience what the destitute and the starving have to endure.”
Fasting likewise “expresses our own spiritual hunger and thirst for life in God,” it “wakes us up,” and “makes us more attentive to God and our neighbor.” He also adds: “It revives our desire to obey God, who alone is capable of satisfying our hunger.”
Call to action
As a call to action, the Pope urges those who recognize “the spread of iniquity in the world” and “the chill that paralyzes hearts and actions” to pray, fast, and share whatever we can with our brothers and sisters in need.
Last March 9 and 10, the Catholic Church celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation inspired by the words of Psalm 130:4, “With you is forgiveness.” One church in each diocese remained open for 24 consecutive hours for Eucharistic adoration and sacramental confession.
During the next few days, let us intensify our prayers, observe fasting, and continue to open our hearts to those who need help.
On the night of Holy Saturday, during the Easter Vigil, the Catholic community prepares for the lighting of the Easter candle. The Pope tells us the new fire “will slowly overcome the darkness and illuminate the liturgical assembly.”
In parting, the Pope says: “By listening to God’s word and drawing nourishment from the table of the Eucharist, may our hearts be ever more ardent in faith, hope, and love.” May we all have a meaningful Holy Week.
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