(The 10 Resolutions that
lead us closer to the joy and peace overflowing from God)
1. Don't
gossip.
It's one of our hobbies. For Francis, it's also one of
the most evil activities. The Catholic leader denounces gossip as “murder.”
He feels so strongly about it that in less than a year
as pontiff, Francis has preached against gossip in at least 6 different
instances.
He says when we gossip, we “are doing what Judas did,”
and “begin to tear the other person to pieces.”
“Every time we judge our brother in our hearts or
worse when we speak badly of them with others, we are murdering Christians,”
Francis says. “There is no such thing as innocent slander.”
2. Finish your meals.
No leftovers, please.
Nearly 870 million people suffer from chronic
malnutrition. The Pope says: “We should all remember... that throwing food away
is like stealing from the tables of the poor, the hungry! I encourage everyone
to reflect on the problem of thrown away and wasted food to identify ways and
means that, by seriously addressing this issue, are a vehicle of solidarity and
sharing with the needy.”
3. Make time
for others.
Tending to 1.2 billion members, Francis seems too busy
for anything else.
That is, until he calls up strangers. Or entertains a
random biker; or sends a handwritten
letter to a Jesuit he has never met.
The Jesuit who got the letter, Fr James Martin, says
Francis inspires him “to be more generous in my own life with my time.”
Martin says: “If the Pope can find time to be kind to
others, if he can pause to say thank you, if he can take a moment to make
someone feel appreciated, then so can I. So can we.”
4. Choose the
'more humble' purchase.
Take it from the head of state who rides a 29-year-old
Renault.
In July, he warns against luxurious lives that seek
“the joy of the world in the latest smartphone, the fastest car.” “Cars are
necessary,” he says, “but take a more humble one. Think of how many children
die of hunger and dedicate the savings to them.”
The Pope preaches against materialism. “Certainly,
possessions, money, and power can give a momentary thrill, the illusion of
being happy, but they end up possessing us and making us always want to have
more, never satisfied. ‘Put on Christ’ in your life, place your trust in him,
and you will never be disappointed!”
5. Meet the
poor 'in the flesh.'
Sure, we donate to charity. But this is not enough for
Francis. Commitment to the poor, he says, must be “person to person, in the
flesh.” “It is not enough to mediate this commitment through institutions,
which obviously help because they have a multiplying effect, but that is not
enough. They do not excuse us from our establishing personal contact with the
needy. The sick must be cared for, even when we find them repulsive and
repugnant. Those in prison must be visited.”
He calls for long-term commitment. “Hospitality in
itself isn't enough. It's not enough to give a sandwich if it isn't accompanied
by the possibility of learning to stand on one’s own feet. Charity that does
not change the situation of the poor isn't enough.”
6. Stop judging
others.
In the same way he denounces gossip, Francis condemns
prejudice.
He reminds “intolerant” Catholics, for one, to respect
atheists. “If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet
there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make
that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing
good.”
He also says of gays: “If someone is gay and seeks the
Lord with good will, who am I to judge?” Francis urges us “to keep watch over
ourselves.” “Let us not forget that hatred, envy, and pride defile our lives!”
7. Befriend
those who disagree.
What can we do to our worst critics? We can take our
cue from Francis.
In November, Francis surprises Mario Palmaro, a
traditionalist who wrote the article, 'The Reason Why We Don't Like This
Pope.'” “He just wanted to tell me that he is praying for me,” says Palmaro who
is gravely ill, in an article by the Catholic News Agency.
Francis does this in line with what he calls a
“culture of encounter.”
He says in July: “When leaders in various fields ask
me for advice, my response is always the same: dialogue, dialogue, dialogue. It
is the only way for individuals, families, and societies to grow, the only way
for the life of peoples to progress, along with the culture of encounter, a
culture in which all have something good to give and all can receive something
good in return. Others always have something to give me, if we know how to
approach them in a spirit of openness and without prejudice.”
8. Make
commitments, such as marriage.
Don't be afraid
to say “forever.” Francis advises the youth, for instance, not to fear
marriage. The Pope says: “Today, there are those who say that marriage is out
of fashion; in a culture of relativism and the ephemeral, many preach the
importance of ‘enjoying’ the moment. They say that it is not worth making a
life-long commitment, making a definitive decision, ‘forever,’ because we do
not know what tomorrow will bring.”
“I ask you, instead, to be revolutionaries, to swim
against the tide; yes, I am asking you to rebel against this culture that sees
everything as temporary and that ultimately believes that you are incapable of
responsibility, that you are incapable of true love. I have confidence in you
and I pray for you. Have the courage ‘to swim against the tide.’ Have the
courage to be happy,” he says.
9. Make it a
habit to 'ask the Lord.'
Bothered about the future? Pray, the Pope urges us
especially the youth.
“Dear young people,” he says, “some of you may not yet
know what you will do with your lives. Ask the Lord, and he will show you the
way. You too can ask the Lord: What do you want me to do? What path am I to
follow?”
10. Be happy.
The true Christian, says the Pope, exudes great joy.
He says keeping this joy to ourselves “will make us sick in the end. Francis
says in a homily. “Joy cannot be held at heel: it must be let go. Joy is a
pilgrim virtue. It is a gift that walks, walks on the path of life that walks
with Jesus: preaching, proclaiming Jesus, proclaiming joy, lengthens and widens
that path.”
Francis says, “The Christian sings with joy, and
walks, and carries this joy." This joy, he reminds us, should translate to
love of neighbour.
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"IMITATE THE HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE OF JESUS"
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"O Jesus, preserve the JOY of newly ordained priests; confirm the JOY of experienced priests; and make better known the JOY of elderly priests" - Pope Francis
Mt 11:25-30 --- The Father Revealed in the Son - Ejjew għandi, u jiena nserraħkom
Ejjew għandi, u jiena nserraħkom
(Lq 10, 21-22)
[Mt:11:25] F'dak iż-żmien Ġesù qabad u qal: "Nfaħħrek, Missier, Sid is-sema u l-art, għax inti dawn il-ħwejjeġ ħbejthom lil min għandu l-għerf u d-dehen u wrejthom liċ-ċkejknin. [Mt:11:26] Iva, Missier, għax lilek hekk għoġbok.
[Mt:11:27] "Kollox kien mogħti lili minn Missieri, u ħadd ma jagħraf lill-Iben jekk mhux il-Missier, kif ħadd ma jagħraf lill-Missier jekk mhux l-Iben u dak li lilu l-Iben irid jgħarrafhulu.
[Mt:11:28] "Ejjew għandi, intom ilkoll li tinsabu mħabbtin u mtaqqlin, u jiena nserraħkom. [Mt:11:29] Ħudu fuqkom il-madmad tiegħi u tgħallmu minni, għaliex jiena ta' qalb ħelwa u umli, u intom issibu l-mistrieħ għal ruħkom. [Mt:11:30] Għax il-madmad tiegħi ħelu u t-toqol tiegħi ħafif."
Meek and Humble
Pope Confesses in St. Peter\'s Basilica, before confessing others...
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