Pope Francis at Santa Marta: Church will not advance with boring, bitter Christians
During his homily at Casa Santa Marta, the pope reflected on how rarely rigid Christians are able to evangelize. As an example, he used King David’s wife, Michal. She resented her husband when she saw him celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant.
POPE FRANCIS
The Church will not advance, the Gospel will not go forward with boring, bitter evangelizers. No. Don’t be like this lady, Michal, like formal Christians, prisoners of formality.
The pope’s new secretary Fr. Gonzalo Aemilius, was at the Mass. He will work closely with the pope’s other secretary, Yoannis Lahzi.
EXTRACTS OF PAPAL HOMILY
(Source: Vatican News)
The Pope pointed out that we also experience this joy and celebrate when “when we are with the Lord” in our parishes or villages. In this regard, he recalled that at the time of Nehemiah, in the Old Testament, people wept with joy when the book of the law was found, and they continued their celebration at home.
Continuing David’s story, the Pope said that one of his wives, Michal, Saul’s daughter, reproached him with contempt saying he was dancing shamelessly like a vulgar, like one of the people.
The Pope described Michal’s reaction as contempt of “genuine religiosity” and spontaneity of joy of being with the Lord. But David explained to her that he was rejoicing in the Lord as the ark was back home. The Bible says that Michal was punished for this and did not bear children. Without joy in the heart, the Pope said, a Christian is not fruitful.
Pope Francis further explained that celebration is not only expressed spiritually but becomes sharing. After the blessing, David distributed to each person “a loaf of bread, a cut of roast meat and a raisin cake”, so that everyone could celebrate in their homes. “The Word of God is not ashamed of celebration,” the Pope said, warning, at the same time, of the danger of a joy that goes beyond limits, believing this is everything.
Javier Romero
Translation: Melissa Butz
© Vatican Media
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According to Vatican News, Pope Francis suggested this during his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, today, Jan. 28, as he reflected on today’s First Reading, which speaks of the joy with which David and all the people of Israel were celebrating the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem following its capture.
The people felt that God was close to them and they celebrated, the Pope said, pointing out that King David was leading the procession. He also danced expressing his joy, like the others, without inhibitions.
“David loves the Lord, and he is happy and joyful to bring back the ark of the Lord with dancing and singing like all the people,” the Holy Father noted.
The Pope pointed out that we also experience this joy and celebrate when “when we are with the Lord” in our parishes or villages.
Turning back to David’s story, the Pope said that one of his wives, Michal, Saul’s daughter, reproached him saying it was inappropriate that he was celebrating like the people. David, Francis recalled, explained to Michal that he was rejoicing in the Lord, as the ark was back home. Yet, Michal, the Pope remember, was punished for this and did not bear children.
“Without joy in the heart,” he said, “a Christian is not fruitful.”
In the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi of his predecessor, Saint Pope Paul VI said–Pope Francis cited–“the Gospel will not go forward with boring, bitter evangelizers.”
“It will only go forward,” he underscored, “with joyful evangelizers, full of life.”
Pope Francis concluded, urging faithful to live the joy of receiving the Word of God, “the joy of being Christians, the joy of going ahead, the ability to celebrate without being ashamed and not being like Michal, formal Christians, prisoners of formalities.”
Read the source: https://zenit.org/articles/popes-morning-homily-celebrate-gods-nearness-be-joyous/