Fr. Carlo Di Sopra sx
XVI Sunday per annum B – 18th July 2021-06-24
In all the readings of this Sunday we can see how God is concerned with his people that he wants closely united, well cared for and in perfect peace. In this perspective his action is not directed only to the salvation of souls, as many times it is underlined and believed, giving reason to certain criticism that sees in Christianity the root of all individualism, but it is directed to the formation of a community, of a people who can be the seed of a new humanity.
In no way, however, one aspect is in contradiction with the other: the salvation of the individual is obtained in fact through a life lived for and with others. And today, maybe more than ever before, the church, ‘a people united in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’, is called to be this seed of new fraternal relations for a humanity who struggles and yet does not succeed in providing a dignified life for all. Recently Pope Francis with the Encyclical ‘Fratelli tutti’ (All brothers and sisters). called the attention of all, believers of every religion as well as non-believers, to the fact that fraternity is crucial for our times.
But how can this realistically happen when there persist so many serious differences, divisions and conflicts?
In the Gospel I can perceive two indications as an answer to this question.
The first one, is the fact that the disciples are sent to the villages to share with others what Jesus gave them to live out, and what Jesus himself, seeing the crowds and their lack of purpose, tried to teach them. This is what we could call ‘formation’. Today we need christians well prepared, with a solid christian teaching and experience, christians capable to announce in a simple and experiential language, ways to fraternal communities leading to a united humanity.
The second aspect that strikes me in this Gospel is the fact that the apostles returning to Jesus, share with him their own experiences, their successes, their efforts and also their difficulties. In this way the word of Jesus goes out to all corners of the country, and comes back with its fruits! Like the rain that comes from above and goes back only after achieving its purpose. It is very rare to hear some comments on the Sunday Gospel or to have a ‘return’ after homilies on how that ‘word’ becomes flesh, incarnate in the life of those who listen to it.
To allow the word of the gospel to bring about fruitful changes and to get into the habit to share them with others could be a way to build good relationships and offer new concrete visions for possible solutions to the real problems of people. Surely, we need to be able to harness our talk with reality and experience, not simply with theories and sentiments. But the word spoken by Jesus, understood and lived out, and finally crowned with its fruits could make a difference and be a joyful surprise for our communities and also for all others, believers and non-believers.
Have a nice Sunday
XVI Sunday per annum B – 18th July 2021-06-24
In all the readings of this Sunday we can see how God is concerned with his people that he wants closely united, well cared for and in perfect peace. In this perspective his action is not directed only to the salvation of souls, as many times it is underlined and believed, giving reason to certain criticism that sees in Christianity the root of all individualism, but it is directed to the formation of a community, of a people who can be the seed of a new humanity.
In no way, however, one aspect is in contradiction with the other: the salvation of the individual is obtained in fact through a life lived for and with others. And today, maybe more than ever before, the church, ‘a people united in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit’, is called to be this seed of new fraternal relations for a humanity who struggles and yet does not succeed in providing a dignified life for all. Recently Pope Francis with the Encyclical ‘Fratelli tutti’ (All brothers and sisters). called the attention of all, believers of every religion as well as non-believers, to the fact that fraternity is crucial for our times.
But how can this realistically happen when there persist so many serious differences, divisions and conflicts?
In the Gospel I can perceive two indications as an answer to this question.
The first one, is the fact that the disciples are sent to the villages to share with others what Jesus gave them to live out, and what Jesus himself, seeing the crowds and their lack of purpose, tried to teach them. This is what we could call ‘formation’. Today we need christians well prepared, with a solid christian teaching and experience, christians capable to announce in a simple and experiential language, ways to fraternal communities leading to a united humanity.
The second aspect that strikes me in this Gospel is the fact that the apostles returning to Jesus, share with him their own experiences, their successes, their efforts and also their difficulties. In this way the word of Jesus goes out to all corners of the country, and comes back with its fruits! Like the rain that comes from above and goes back only after achieving its purpose. It is very rare to hear some comments on the Sunday Gospel or to have a ‘return’ after homilies on how that ‘word’ becomes flesh, incarnate in the life of those who listen to it.
To allow the word of the gospel to bring about fruitful changes and to get into the habit to share them with others could be a way to build good relationships and offer new concrete visions for possible solutions to the real problems of people. Surely, we need to be able to harness our talk with reality and experience, not simply with theories and sentiments. But the word spoken by Jesus, understood and lived out, and finally crowned with its fruits could make a difference and be a joyful surprise for our communities and also for all others, believers and non-believers.
Have a nice Sunday