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“The truth is meek. The truth is silent. The truth is not noisy."
Even in a family, Pope Francis said, there are times when a discussion
of politics or sports or money escalates into a truly destructive
argument;
"in these discussions in which you see the devil is there and
wants to destroy—silence. Have your say, then keep quiet.”
Francis was commenting on the Gospel story of the day from Luke that
describes how Jesus reacted when he returned to Nazareth and met with
opposition from his former neighbors after commenting on a passage from
the prophet Isaiah.
He recalled Jesus’ silent composure on that occasion, when people wanted him to do miracles as he had done elsewhere, but when he chose instead to comment on the prophet’s words and they got furious and the atmosphere quickly changed “from peace to war.” Jesus adopted “silence” when confronted with the devil.
Pope Francis said that those who attacked Jesus “were not persons, they were a pack of wild dogs that threw him out of the city. They did not reason. They shouted. Jesus stayed silent. They took him to the top of the mountain to throw him down, but he passed through their midst and went away.”
“With his silence,” he said, Jesus wins against “the wild dogs”; he wins against “the devil” that “sowed lies in the heart.”
Pope Francis said that Jesus’ dignity shines through “this silence that
triumphs” over his attackers, as it would also on Good Friday when they
shouted “crucify him!” after praising him on Palm Sunday.
He acknowledged that what Jesus did is not easy, but “silence wins,
through the Cross.” He emphasized that
“the dignity of the Christian is
anchored in the power of God.”
“May the Lord give us the grace to discern when we should speak and
when we should stay silent. This applies to every part of life: to work,
at home, in society.”
Excerpted from reporting by Vatican correspondent, Gerard O'Connell for America Magazine HERE.
Also at the Vatican News site HERE.
All clothing is a form of emotional armoring.
ReplyDeleteThe more elaborate the clothing, the greater and more effective the armoring, especially when it is adorned with symbols of very worldly "religious" power.
Can you imagine this chap standing naked or unclothed in any gathering large or small, in public or relatively private while giving a homily/sermon on silence, meekness or any other topic.
Never mind too that this chap is the CEO of the world's largest and most successful "religious" business enterprise, which is to say that the "catholic" church is primarily a business (and political) corporation, the primary motive of which is to protect and expand its share of the "religious" market place. Indeed via its "mission statement" it intends to control the religious aspirations of ALL of humankind.
It is also collectively the worlds largest property owner. It also runs the worlds largest "privately" owned propaganda or NOISE machine/apparatus in both paper and electronic forms which reach into almost every village on the planet. How many "catholic" universities are there.
Remember too that the vatican is also a political state which actively interferes with the political process at all levels of government. Historically the "catholic" church has always sided with and supported autocratic, authoritarian, and even totalitarian states.
So much for meekness and silence.
Remember how Jesus was scathingly critical of the ecclesiastical establishment in his time and place.
If Jesus happened to reappear would he be welcome at the vatican, or even recognized!
Thanks Anonymous!
DeleteWhich is why Francis is SO unpopular. He is leading this large, "successful" Church down the road of financial ruin, what with preaching service and care of the poor.
He won't even ride in the big cars.
I should correct this to say - "This is why Francis is SO unpopular with American conservatives".
Delete