Continuing on with the temptations faced by pastoral workers, Pope Francis sees in the true Christian spirit a joy and a fulfillment that results from being a part of community and reveling in the goodness of others and in praying for our enemies. This gift can only be had by putting away "enmity, division, calumny, defamation, vendetta, jealousy and the desire to impose certain ideas at all costs."
No to warring among ourselves
98. How
many wars take place within the people of God and in our different communities!
In our neighbourhoods and in the workplace, how many wars are caused by envy
and jealousy, even among Christians! Spiritual worldliness leads some
Christians to war with other Christians who stand in the way of their quest for
power, prestige, pleasure and economic security. Some are even no longer
content to live as part of the greater Church community but stoke a spirit of
exclusivity, creating an “inner circle”. Instead of belonging to the whole
Church in all its rich variety, they belong to this or that group which thinks
itself different or special.
99. Our
world is being torn apart by wars and violence, and wounded by a widespread individualism
which divides human beings, setting them against one another as they pursue
their own well-being. In various countries, conflicts and old divisions from
the past are re-emerging. I especially ask Christians in communities throughout
the world to offer a radiant and attractive witness of
fraternal communion. Let everyone admire how you care for one another, and how
you encourage and accompany one another: “By this everyone will know that you
are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35). This was Jesus’
heartfelt prayer to the Father: “That they may all be one... in us... so that
the world may believe” (Jn 17:21). Beware of the temptation of jealousy! We are
all in the same boat and headed to the same port! Let us ask for the grace to
rejoice in the gifts of each, which belong to all.
100. Those
wounded by historical divisions find it difficult to accept our invitation to
forgiveness and reconciliation, since they think that we are ignoring their
pain or are asking them to give up their memory and ideals. But if they see the
witness of authentically fraternal and reconciled communities, they will find
that witness luminous and attractive. It always pains me greatly to discover
how some Christian communities, and even consecrated persons, can tolerate
different forms of enmity, division, calumny, defamation, vendetta, jealousy
and the desire to impose certain ideas at all costs, even to persecutions which
appear as veritable witch hunts. Whom are we going to evangelize if this is the
way we act?
101. Let us
ask the Lord to help us understand the law of love. How good it is to have this
law! How much good it does us to love one another, in spite of everything. Yes,
in spite of everything! Saint Paul’s exhortation is directed to each of us, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good” (Rom 12:21). And again: “Let us not grow weary in doing what is
right” (Gal 6:9). We all have our likes and dislikes, and perhaps at this very
moment we are angry with someone. At least let us say to the Lord: “Lord, I am
angry with this person, with that person. I pray to you for him and for her”.
To pray for a person with whom I am irritated is a beautiful step forward in
love, and an act of evangelization. Let us do it today! Let us not allow
ourselves to be robbed of the ideal of fraternal love!
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