Posted on 12/19/2014 9:40:24 PM PST by ebb tide
Vatican City, Dec 19, 2014 / 09:38 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis cautioned Christians against an egoism that excludes the need for God in his homily at Mass on Friday, saying this attitude renders our lives sterile and prevents the Church from bearing fruit.
“This too makes me think of our mother Church and of so much sterility within our Mother Church,” the Pope told those present in the Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse chapel Dec. 19.
He noted that when too much emphasis is placed on our ability to choose to be good by following the commandments unaided by grace, “that pelagianism that all of us carry within our bones” grows, and the Church “becomes sterile.”
The roots of this sterile pelagianism – the belief that original sin did not damage human nature, and that man is still able to choose the good without divine assistance – come “from egoism (and) from power,” the Roman Pontiff continued, lamenting that there is “so much sterility within the people of God.”
Pope Francis centered his reflections on the day’s readings taken from Judges and the Gospel of Luke, which recount the birth of Samson and the announcement of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist.
He referred to how both women had been infertile, but miraculously received children through the intervention of God.
Since there are so many stories recounted in the Bible of women who found themselves in the same situation, it’s obvious that the Church wants us to reflect on the topic of sterility, the Pope said.
“From sterility, the Lord is able to restart a new lineage, a new life. And that is the message of today: when humanity is exhausted and can no longer go forward, grace comes, the Son comes and Salvation comes. And that exhausted Creation gives way to a new creation,” the Roman Pontiff continued.
With Christmas only a few days away, the message we get from these readings is about a second, new creation that comes when the world is exhausted, he said.
The Bishop of Rome pointed out how both Elizabeth and the mother of Samson were able to give birth because of the action of the Holy Spirit. The message this sends, he said, is that we must be open to God because there is nothing we can do on our own.
“This makes me think of our mother Church and of so much sterility within our Mother Church,” the Pope said, and noted that when she thinks she can act without God, “(the Church) believes she is capable of giving birth, (but) no, she can’t!”
Only when the Church opens to the newness of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit is she able to become a mother, he observed, noting that whenever she tells herself it is impossible to go on, the Holy Spirit comes to her aid.
“When the Church believes she can do everything, that she can take charge of the consciences of the people, walk along the road of the Pharisees, of the Sadducees, along the road of hypocrisy, the Church is sterile,” he said, and encouraged those present to pray for the Church.
He prayed that during the season of Christmas, the Church would be open to the gift of God, and that she would let herself “be surprised” by the Holy Spirit so that she can become a mother.
“Many times I think that in some places the Church is more like an entrepreneur than a mother,” the Roman Pontiff noted, and concluded by praying that the Lord would give the Church the “grace of fertility,” so that she can become a mother who follows the example of Mary.
I never thought I would see a Pope speak about the Immaculate Bride of Christ with such contempt. He appears to hold himself up even above the Holy Catholic Church.
Ping
As I have said before, this guy loves attention more than being a pope. ‘Humble yourself and know that I am lord’ fool....
I am not catholic, but if I were, that whole “opening to the newness of God” business would alarm me. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
I’m no Catholic either, but I took it to mean the newness that WE can see in our own lives that Christ creates in us. Just like a one-time Babtism makes one born-again (and “new”) - the day to day discoveries to remind us that Christ is alive and in us.
Rather than, perhaps, the “sterile” living of just trying to do the same thing we did yesterday, and the day before that. That even churches can fall into. All while following the 10 Commandments - but perhaps without the daring sense of adventure and continuing growth and “living life abundantly” that Christ means for us to have.
(And no - not the “abundantly” that Joel Olsteen talks about!)
This new guy. He’s not really working out for you guys, is he?
When more than 5% of Catholics can even recite the Commandments, perhaps this will become a problem.
bookmark
wonderful and insightful post. thank you!
Well, this Pope should certainly know about “sterile egoism rooted in a desire for power.”
Physician heal thyself.....
He really stresses we need to be ready to be “surprised”. Get ready believers.
Is he really blissfully unaware that the crisis of our age is not self-righteous Pelagianism, but the denial of sin itself?
Put another way, people who think they are made righteous by following the commandments are few and far between. People who think they're inherently righteous and don't need any "dumb commandments" are a dime a dozen.
"Sterile egoism rooted in desire for power"?? Nathan the Prophet, pick up the white courtesy phone ...
One world religion initiated and led by the pope and the Catholic Church.
Heh, that was my first thought too.
....But the Blessed Mother did give birth to the Savior of the world, Jesus. A good and blessed Merry Christmas! :)
Yes, God is the SAME, yesterday, today, forever, but, He always continues to surprise us by making sure to it that you can open up your eyes first thing in the morning. Merry Christmas!
Have no fear, Francis apologist Jimmy Akin will interpret what Francis REALLY is trying to say, but believe me it will be nothing critical.
**Only when the Church opens to the newness of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit is she able to become a mother, he observed, noting that whenever she tells herself it is impossible to go on, the Holy Spirit comes to her aid. **
I thought perhaps he was talking about atheists and other unchurched people. But the phrase has “Church” in it. Should it be people?
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