Christians, as the chosen people, are frequently tempted to "sell"
their being children of God in order to feel "normal", " like
all the nations ." In
this way they forget the Word of God and follow their own desires. This was the focus of Pope Francis' homily today at Mass celebrated in Casa Santa Marta.
As reported by Vatican Radio, the Pope spoke of this temptation, referring to the first reading of the Mass (1 Sam 8,4-7.10-22 a) , which speaks of the Jewish people request of the prophet Samuel to have a king " like all other nations . "
" They reject the Lord of love - said Francis - they reject their election and seek the path of worldliness", of "worldly uniformity" , similar to many Christians today.
"The normality of life - he said - demands faithfulness to his election from the Christian and not to sell out to worldly normality. This is the temptation of the people, and also ours. Many times, we forget the Word of God , what the Lord tells us, and choose the word in fashion, no? Even that of the soap opera is fashionable, we choose that, it's more fun ! Apostasy is precisely the sin of breaking with the Lord, but it is clear: Apostasy is clearly seen. Worldliness is more dangerous, because it is more subtle ".
"It 's true - he added - that the Christian must be normal, like people are normal... but there are values that the Christian can not take for himself . Christians must be held upon himself the Word of God," without feel besieged by" a certain inferiority complex", because they do not feel like "normal people" .
"Temptation comes - he continued - and hardens the heart and when the heart is hard, when the heart is not open, the Word of God can not enter. Jesus said to the disciples in Emmaus: ' O foolish men, and slow of heart!'. They had a hard heart, they could not understand the Word of God worldliness softens the heart, but that is bad: a soft heart is never a good thing! What is good is a heart open to the Word of God, a heart that welcomes it. Like the Virgin, who pondered all these things in her heart, says the Gospel. Welcome the Word of God so as not to distance ourselves from our election".
Let us ask, he concluded, " the grace to overcome our selfishness : the selfishness of wanting to have my own way, do as I want": "Let us ask for the grace to overcome them and ask for the grace of spiritual docility, that is to open our heart to the Word of God and no do as our brothers did, who closed their hearts because they had turned away from God and did not hear of understand the Word of God for a long time. May the Lord give us the grace of an open heart to receive the Word of God and meditate upon it forever. And from there take the true path . "