MAY 3 - SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES --- Pope at Mass: ‘Transmitting the faith is a birth process’

03 May 2018

Pope at Mass: ‘Transmitting the faith is a birth process’

 

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope-francis/mass-casa-santa-marta/2018-05/pope-francis-homily-transmitting-faith-holy-spirit-attraction.html

On the Feast of Saints Philip and James, Pope Francis focuses his homily at Casa Santa Marta’s chapel on the characteristics needed to accompany the transmission of the faith.

 

 

By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp

 

Using the first reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Pope Francis spoke about the transmission of the faith during his homily on Thursday at Casa Santa Marta.

 

What transmission of the faith is not

 

Transmitting the faith is not to be confused with proselytism, Pope Francis said. The Church is not about looking for cheering fans; neither is it simply reciting the Creed, which is an expression of the faith. Neither is it merely the passing on of information as if it were as easy as: “Here, take this book, study it and then I will baptize you”, Pope Francis said.

 

Faith is not given, it is birthed

 

Rather, transmitting the faith is “rooting the heart in faith in Jesus Christ”, the Pope said. This is the Church’s challenge: “to be a fruitful mother, giving birth to children in the faith.” Grandparents, and parents are especially apt to transmit the faith because they “perfume it with love”, the Pope continued. And he added that care-givers, even if they are foreigners, can also effectively transmit the faith to those whom they care for.

 

 

Testimony provokes attraction and curiosity

 

Quoting Benedict XVI, Pope Francis reminds us that the faith is transmitted when people are attracted by our testimony. At times, that testimony ends in martyrdom. “Testimony provokes curiosity,” he said. It is when others see a consistency in someone’s life that they are led to ask: “Why does so-and-so live like that? Why would a person spend their life in service to others?” “The Holy Spirit uses that curiosity and he goes to work within” the person, Pope Francis said.

 

The Pope concluded saying, “Transmitting the faith makes us just, it justifies us. The faith justifies us and by transmitting it we give true justice to others”.

 

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The Gospel on May 3
- Feast of St Philip & St James, Apostles - Jn 14:6-14 - San Filep u San Gakbu, Festa

--- To have seen me is to have seen the father ---

Evanġelju
Min ra lili ra lill-Missier ukoll.
Ġw 14: 6-14

 

Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann

 

F’dak iż-żmien: Ġesù qal lil Tumas: [Ġw:14:6]: "Jiena hu t-Triq, il-Verità u l-Ħajja. Ħadd ma jmur għand il-Missier jekk mhux permezz tiegħi. [Ġw:14:7] Kieku għaraftu lili, kontu tagħrfu wkoll lil Missieri. Minn issa 'l quddiem tagħrfuh, anzi diġà rajtuh."

 

[Ġw:14:8] Qallu Filippu: "Mulej, urina l-Missier, u jkun biżżejjed għalina." Ġw:14:9] Ġesù wieġeb: "Ili daqshekk magħkom, Filippu, u għadek ma għaraftnix? Min ra lili ra lill-Missier. Kif tgħidli, 'Urina l-Missier'? [Ġw:14:10] Ma temminx li jiena fil-Missier u l-Missier fija? Il-kliem li ngħidilkom jien, ma ngħidux minn moħħi iżda l-Missier li jgħammar fija qiegħed jagħmel l-opri tiegħu. [Ġw:14:11] Emmnuni! Jiena fil-Missier u l-Missier huwa fija. Jekk m'hux għal ħaġ'oħra, emmnuni minħabba dawn l-opri stess. [Ġw:14:12] Tassew tassew ngħidilkom, min jemmen fija hu wkoll għad jagħmel l-opri li qiegħed nagħmel jien, u akbar minnhom għad jagħmel, għax jiena sejjer għand il-Missier. [Ġw:14:13] U jekk titolbu xi ħaġa f'ismi jiena nagħmilha, biex il-Missier ikun igglorifikat permezz ta' Ibnu. [Ġw:14:14] Iva, jekk titolbuni xi ħaġa f'ismi, jiena nagħmilha.

 

Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu.

 

 

 

 

 

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