The Pope: how sad it is that Christian peoples are thinking of making war

Jesus' response to those who harm him is not revenge or rancor, but the kindness and meekness of those who turn the other cheek and open a breach in the heart of the enemy. So too Christians are called not to give in to hatred but to go further, and only with the strength of God can they do so. This is the heart of the Pope's reflection at the Angelus on the seventh Sunday of the Ordinary Time. Hence the strong and renewed call to be peacemakers today and always in the world.

Gabriella Ceraso - Vatican City

Is it possible to love our enemies? Is it possible to turn the other cheek when we are beaten? In the pages of today's Gospel, Jesus asks us to do it, giving us "fundamental indications" precisely for when we find ourselves on the "test bench", in the face of "those who are our enemy and hostile, those who always try to harm us" . And if he asks us this, it is because he himself gives us the strength to love, "to go beyond, much beyond hatred and instinct". "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly" and again ... "To those who hit you on the cheek, offer the other too" These are the words of the Evangelist Luke from which the Pope's reflection begins, before the Angelus prayer. "If one does not react to the bullies, every abuse of power has the go-ahead", therefore the "Lord really asks us for things that are impossible and indeed unjust?" Francis asks and, to answer, invites us to look at how Jesus turns the other cheek, during the passion, when he is unjustly tried and slapped:

He tells the guard: "If I have spoken badly, show me where the evil is. But if I spoke well, why are you beating me? " He asks for an account of the evil received. Turning the other cheek: kindness that extinguishes hatred So here's what it means to "turn the other cheek". It does not mean - the Pope explains - "to suffer in silence or to give in to injustice": With his question Jesus denounces what is unjust. But he does it without anger, without violence, indeed with kindness. He doesn't want to spark an argument, but to defuse resentment. This is important: extinguish hatred and injustice together, trying to recover the guilty brother. This is not easy, but Jesus did it and He tells us to do it too.

Meekness is stronger than beatings and breaks through Therefore in Jesus who suffers injustice and beatings there is no rancor, but "meekness", a response that is not weak or submissive, but rather denotes a "greater inner strength" that overcomes evil and opens a breach in those who hate us. : Turning the other cheek is not the fallback of the loser, but the action of someone who has a greater inner strength, turning the other cheek is overcoming evil with good, which opens a breach in the heart of the enemy, unmasking the absurdity of his hatred. This attitude, this turning the other cheek is not dictated by calculation or hatred but by love. And it is precisely "the gratuitous and undeserved love that Jesus gives us" - Francis emphasizes - moves our hearts to a way of doing similar to his, rejecting any revenge. And we, on the other hand, are unfortunately used - the Pope adds off the cuff - to keeping in our hearts the rancor that destroys the person.

Christians can respond to evil with good In the face of the enemy, is it therefore possible to love? The Pope answers this question too by looking at the model of Jesus. Because - he explains - if it depended on us "it would be impossible", but "let us remember that when the Lord asks for something, he wants to give it". “When he tells me he loves enemies, he wants to give me the ability to do so”, without it we could not act. What to ask then? The power to love, which is the Holy Spirit: With the Spirit of Jesus we can respond to evil with good, we can love those who harm us. So do Christians. And how sad it is, when people and peoples proud of being Christians see others as enemies and think of making war! It's very sad.

May Mary make us peacemakers with those who are hostile to us How then to live the invitations of Jesus in daily life, in the life of each one when a person hurts us? Is grudge or meekness our attitude when we suffer evil? Once again the Pope invites us to think and indicate how to act: look at the model of Jesus "meek during the process", ask for the light of the Holy Spirit and above all pray for our enemy. "Let's not feel victims" says Francis and "let's ask for help. to the Lord "for our enemy: Praying for those who have treated us badly is the first thing to transform evil into good. Prayer. May the Virgin Mary help us to be peacemakers towards everyone, especially towards those who are hostile to us and do not like us. Proximity to Brazil and Madagascar, and thanks to the anti Covid doctors.

In the greetings following the Angelus, as in two telegrams sent in recent days, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pontiff expressed his closeness to the suffering populations of Brazil, in the mountainous region around the city of Petropolis , where about 200 people are missing due to floods and landslides, and in the south-east of Madagascar, which is mourning for repeated cyclones a hundred victims and thousands of displaced people in need of all kinds of relief. Pain and prayer of the Pope for Madagascar hit by cyclones Also recalling today's Day dedicated to health personnel, Francis mentioned the many doctors, nurses and volunteers who are close to the sick: "Nobody saves himself alone" he repeated and in sickness we are even more in need of help. Then also the story of a doctor who testified to the "heroism of the health staff" not only in time of Covid but, the Pope said, with a daily job that deserves "an applause and a big thank you".

Full Translation to English from Italian article: https://www.vaticannews.va/it/papa/news/2022-02/angelus-papa-francesco-guerra-misericordia-vangelo-pace.html