From the window of the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican the Pope again asked: “Let us not stop praying for peace in Ukraine, in the Holy Land, in Sudan, Myanmar and in all places where war is suffering.” He also referred to the violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: “They are martyrs! Their sacrifice is a seed that germinates.”
Vatican City () – “The Lord deposits in us the seeds of his Word and his grace, good and abundant seeds, and then, without ceasing to accompany us, he waits patiently.” After commenting on the Gospel of the day (Mk 4:26-34) – where Jesus affirms that the Kingdom of God “is like a mustard seed” – and praying the Angelus this morning, Pope Francis once again invoked peace “in all places where war is suffered.” He remembered the “martyred Ukraine”, the Holy Land, Sudan and Myanmar, and asked the many faithful present in St. Peter’s not to stop praying for peace.
From the window of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Pontiff also recalled the beatification that took place yesterday in Krakow of Michele Rapacz (1904-1946), whom he defined as “priest and martyr, pastor according to the heart of Christ, faithful and generous witness of the Gospel, who experienced both Nazi and Soviet persecution and responded by offering his life.” The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki. At the invitation of the Pope himself, loud applause rose in the square.
The Holy Father also referred to the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “Painful news of clashes and massacres continues to arrive,” he said. Indeed, in the province of North Kivu, violence perpetrated by both rebel groups and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) continues. I address my appeal to the national authorities and the international community, so that everything possible is done to stop the violence and to safeguard the lives of civilians,” added the bishop of Rome. He then recalled the Christian communities, victims of this often forgotten conflict. “Among the victims, many are Christians murdered in odium fidei. Their sacrifice is a seed that germinates and bears fruit and teaches us to bear witness to the Gospel with courage and consistency.”
Before the Angelus, Pope Francis had explained this Sunday’s Gospel and said that Jesus uses this comparison of the Kingdom of God with a seed on many occasions. In this case he invites us to reflect on a particular attitude: “confident waiting.” It is the typical behavior of the farmer who, no matter how well he prepares the sowing, then has to wait with confidence. “Plants don’t sprout immediately: it takes time and patience!” But in reality, although nothing ever happens on the surface, “Under the ground the miracle is already happening, there is a huge development, although you cannot see it,” he said. “The Lord continues to take care of us, with the trust of a Father, but he gives us time… the Lord is patient.”
God’s own patience is functional so that “everything reaches its full maturity; he wants us all to grow like ears loaded with grain,” said the Pontiff. From his example we too can learn “to confidently sow the Gospel wherever we are.” and then to wait for the planted seed to grow and bear fruit in ourselves and in others, without becoming discouraged.” Then, Pope Francis asked some questions to the faithful who were listening and proposed some ideas to introduce the Word into each one’s life. For example: “Do I confidently sow the Word of God in the environments in which I live? Am I patient when it comes to waiting, or do I become discouraged because I do not immediately see the results? existence of each person, “beyond appearances, the miracle is already happening and in due time will bear abundant fruit.”
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