Homily of Pope Francis on March 27, 2020

Read Pope Francis' homily of March 27, 2020

"Come in the evening" (Mc 4,35).

Così inizia il Vangelo che abbiamo ascoltato. Da settimane sembra che sia scesa la sera. Fitte tenebre si sono addensate sulle nostre piazze, strade e città; si sono impadronite delle nostre vite riempiendo tutto di un silenzio assordante e di un vuoto desolante, che paralizza ogni cosa al suo passaggio: si sente nell’aria, si avverte nei gesti, lo dicono gli sguardi.

We found ourselves scared and lost. Like the disciples of the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected and raging storm. We realized that we were in the same boat, all fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and necessary, all called to row together, all in need of mutual comfort. On this boat… we are all here.

As those disciples, who speak with one voice and in anguish say: "We are lost" (v. 38), so we too have realized that we cannot go forward each on his own, but only together.

It is easy to find ourselves in this story. What is difficult is to understand the attitude of Jesus. While the disciples are naturally alarmed and desperate, He stands at the stern,ownon the part of the boat that sinks first. And what does it do? Despite the hustle and bustle, he sleeps peacefully, confident in the Father - it is the only time in the Gospel we see Jesus who sleeps –. Then when he is awakened, after having calmed the wind and the waters, he turns to the disciples in a tone of reproach: «Why are you afraid? Have you no faith yet?” (v.40).

Let's try to understand. In what does the lack of faith of the disciples consist, which is opposed to the trust of Jesus? They had not stopped believing in him, in fact they invoke him. But let us see how they invoke him: "Master, don't you care that we are lost?" (v. 38).You don't care: they think that Jesus si disinteressi di loro, che non si curi di loro.

Between us, in our families, one of the things that hurts the most is when we hear ourselves say: "Don't you care about me?". It is a phrase that hurts and unleashes storms in the heart. It will have shaken too Jesus. Because no one cares about us more than He does. In fact, once invoked, he saves his discouraged disciples.

La tempesta smaschera la nostra vulnerabilità e lascia scoperte quelle false e superflue sicurezze con cui abbiamo costruito le nostre agende, i nostri progetti, le nostre abitudini e priorità.

It shows us how we have left asleep and abandoned that which feeds, sustains and gives strength to our lives and our community. The storm exposes all the intentions of "packing" and forgetting what has nourished the soul of our peoples; all those attempts to anesthetize with apparently "saving" habits, unable to appeal to our roots and to evoke the memory of our elders, thus depriving us of the immunity necessary to face adversity.

With the storm, the trick of those stereotypes with which we used to mask our "egos" always concerned about their own image fell away; and once again that (blessed) common belonging to which we cannot escape was discovered: belonging as brothers.

"Why are you afraid? Don't you have faith yet?». Signore, la tua Parola stasera ci colpisce e ci riguarda, tutti. In questo nostro mondo, che Tu ami più di noi, siamo andati avanti a tutta velocità, sentendoci forti e capaci in tutto. Avidi di guadagno, ci siamo lasciati assorbire dalle cose e frastornare dalla fretta.

We have not stopped in front of your calls, we have not reawakened in the face of planetary wars and injustices, we have not listened to the cry of the poor, and of our seriously ill planet. We carried on undeterred, thinking of always stay healthy in a sick world. Now, while we are in a rough sea, we implore you: "Wake up Lord!".

"Why are you afraid? Don't you have faith yet?». Lord, you make an appeal to us, an appeal to faith. Which is not so much believing that You exist, but coming to You and trusting You. In this Lent your urgent appeal resounds: "Convert", "return to me with all your heart" (Gl 2,12).

You call us to seize this trying time asa time of choice. Non è il tempo del tuo giudizio, ma del nostro giudizio: il tempo di scegliere che cosa conta e che cosa passa, di separare ciò che è necessario da ciò che non lo è. È il tempo di reimpostare la rotta della vita verso di Te, Signore, e verso gli altri. E possiamo guardare a tanti compagni di viaggio esemplari, che, nella paura, hanno reagito donando la propria vita. È la forza operante dello Spirito riversata e plasmata in coraggiose e generose dedizioni.

It is the life of the Spirit capable of redeeming, enhancing and showing how our lives are woven and sustained by ordinary people – usually forgotten – which do not appear in the headlines of newspapers and magazines nor in the great catwalks of the lattershowbut, without a doubt, the decisive events of our history are being written today: doctors, nurses, supermarket workers, cleaners, carers, carriers, law enforcement, volunteers, priests, religious and many, many others who have understood that no one saves themselves.

In the face of suffering, where the true development of our peoples is measured, let us discover and experience the priestly prayer of Jesus: "may all be one" (Jn17.21). How many people exercise patience every day and instill hope, taking care not to sow panic but co-responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandfathers and grandmothers, teachers they show our children, with small and daily gestures, how to face and go through a crisis by readjusting habits, looking up and stimulating prayer. How many people pray, offer and intercede for the good of all. Prayer and silent service: these are our winning weapons.

"Why are you afraid? Don't you have faith yet?». The beginning of faith is knowing that we are in need of salvation. We are not self-sufficient, by ourselves; alonelet us sink: we need the Lord like the ancient navigators needed the stars. We invite Jesus nelle barche delle nostre vite.

Consegniamogli le nostre paure, perché Lui le vinca. Come i discepoli sperimenteremo che, con Lui a bordo, non si fa naufragio. Perché questa è la forza di God: volgere al bene tutto quello che ci capita, anche le cose brutte. Egli porta il sereno nelle nostre tempeste, perché con God la vita non muore mai.

Il Signore ci interpella e, in mezzo alla nostra tempesta, ci invita a risvegliare e attivare la solidarietà e la speranza capaci di dare solidità, sostegno e significato a queste ore in cui tutto sembra naufragare. Il Signore si risveglia per risvegliare e ravvivare la nostra fede pasquale.

We have an anchor: by his cross we have been saved. We have a rudder: in his cross we were redeemed. We have hope: in his cross we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from his love Redeemer. In the midst of the isolation in which we are suffering from the lack of affection and encounters, experiencing the lack of many things, let us once again hear the announcement that saves us: he has risen and lives next to us.

The Lord asks us from his cross to rediscover the life that awaits us, to look towards those who look to us, to strengthen, recognize and encourage the grace that dwells within us. Let us not put out the dull flame (cfIs42,3), who never gets sick, and let us rekindle hope.

Abbracciare la sua croce significa trovare il coraggio di abbracciare tutte le contrarietà del tempo presente, abbandonando per un momento il nostro affanno di onnipotenza e di possesso per dare spazio alla creatività che solo lo Spirito è capace di suscitare.

It means finding the courage to open spaces where everyone can feel called and allow new forms of hospitality, of fraternity,and of solidarity. In her cross we were saved in order to welcome hope and let it strengthen and support all possible measures and ways that can help us look after and protect ourselves. Embracing the Lord to embrace hope: this is the strength of faith, which frees us from fear and gives us hope.

"Why are you afraid? Don't you have faith yet?». Cari fratelli e sorelle, da questo luogo, che racconta la fede rocciosa di Pietro, stasera vorrei affidarvi tutti al Signore, per l’intercessione della Madonna, salute del suo popolo, stella del mare in tempesta.

Da questo colonnato che abbraccia Roma e il mondo scenda su di voi, come un abbraccio consolante, la benedizione di God. Signore, benedici il mondo, dona salute ai corpi e conforto ai cuori. Ci chiedi di non avere paura. Ma la nostra fede è debole e siamo timorosi.

But You, Lord, do not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Repeat again: «Do not be afraid» (mt 28,5).

And we, together with Peter, "we cast every worry on You, because You take care of us” (cf1 pt5,7).

Download the original document here

Read here the moment of prayer