Papal Homilies

FEBRUARY 24, 2019

Acting with Humility while Witnessing to Charity

So often, as we all know, it is easy or convenient to see and condemn the flaws and sins of others, without being able to see our own with such clarity. We always hide our flaws; we even hide them from ourselves; while it is easy to see the flaws of others. The temptation is to be indulgent with ourselves — lenient with ourselves — and severe with others. It is always useful to help one’s neighbour with wise advice, but while we observe and correct our neighbour’s flaws, we must be aware that we too have flaws. If I believe I have none, I cannot condemn or correct others. We all have flaws: everyone. We must be aware of them, and, before condemning others, we must look within ourselves. In this way we can act in a credible way, with humility, witnessing to charity.

How can we understand if our view is clear or if it is obstructed by a log? And again Jesus tells us so: “no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit” (vv. 43-44). The fruits are actions but also words. A tree’s quality can also be understood from words. Indeed, those who are good draw good from their hearts and their mouths, and those who are bad draw bad, by practicing the most damaging exercise among us, which is grumbling, gossiping, speaking ill of others. This destroys. It destroys the family, destroys school, destroys the workplace, destroys the neighbourhood. Wars begin from the tongue. Let us consider a bit this lesson of Jesus and ask ourselves the question: do I speak ill of others? Do I always seek to tarnish others? Is it easier for me to see others’ flaws than my own? And let us try to correct ourselves at least a little: it will do us all good.

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SOURCE: The Holy See Archive at the Vatican Website © Libreria Editrice Vaticana

NOTE: Usually, Lent has already started by now, but this year it is late. When the Church’s liturgical calendar return to ordinary time in June, it resumes with the 9th or 10th Sunday of the year, so the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time is rarely celebrated.

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

NOTE: Usually, Lent has already started by now, but this year it is late. When the Church’s liturgical calendar return to ordinary time in June, it resumes with the 9th or 10th Sunday of the year, so the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time is rarely celebrated.

SOURCE: The Holy See Archive at the Vatican Website © Libreria Editrice Vaticana

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

NOTE: Usually, Lent has already started by now, but this year it is late. When the Church’s liturgical calendar return to ordinary time in June, it resumes with the 9th or 10th Sunday of the year, so the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time is rarely celebrated.

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

NOTE: Usually, Lent has already started by now, but this year it is late. When the Church’s liturgical calendar return to ordinary time in June, it resumes with the 9th or 10th Sunday of the year, so the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time is rarely celebrated.

RELATED WEBSITES

The Homilies of Pope Francis (The Catholic Register)

Pope Francis Homilies

Actus Essendi