10/3/2014 Pope Francis: Are we open or closed to God's way of salvation?

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-are-we-open-or-closed-to-gods-way-of 1/3
Pope Francis: Are we
open or closed to God's
way of salvation?
2014-10-03 Vatican Radio
(Vatican Radio) Are we open to the gift of
Gods salvation, or do we prefer to take
refuge in the safety of our man-made rules
and regulations? That was the question
Pope Francis posed during his homily at
the morning Mass at Santa Marta on
Friday, as Philippa Hitchen reports...
Listen:
Gods only wish, Pope Francis told his listeners, is to save his people, but so often
we want to make the rules for our own salvation. This is the dramatic paradox of
so many of the Bible stories which culminate in the life of Jesus himself. Reflecting
on the Gospel reading of the day, the Pope spoke of Jesus sadness at being
rejected and ignored by his own people. If the mighty deeds done in your midst
had been done in Tyre and Sidon, Jesus warns the people of Chorazin and
Bethsaida, they would long ago have repented. Just as the prophets were
rejected and killed by their people, so they do the same to Jesus. And its the
leaders, the Pope said, who provoke this resistance to the salvation hes offering:
E proprio la classe dirigente quela che chiude le porte al modo col quale Dio vuole
salvarci..
2:52
10/3/2014 Pope Francis: Are we open or closed to God's way of salvation?
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-are-we-open-or-closed-to-gods-way-of 2/3
Its the ruling class which closes the door to Gods way of salvation, Pope Francis
said. Thats why Jesus has such strong words with the leaders of his day they
argue, they try to trick him and catch him out because they are resisting his offer of
salvation. Jesus says to them, I dont understand you! You are like those children
who say We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and
you did not mourn. What do you want? They want, the Pope said, to save
themselves and remain closed to the way of the Lord.
This attitude, the Pope continued, is quite different from that of the people of God,
who understand and accept salvation brought to them through Jesus. Their
leaders, on the other hand, reduce salvation to the fulfilment of the 613
commandments they have created through their intellectual and theological
fervour.
Loro non credono nella misericordia e nel perdono..
These leaders, the Pope said, dont believe in mercy and forgiveness but simply in
sacrifices. They want everything clearly sorted out and this is the drama of their
resistance to salvation. Each one of us, he said, shares this drama and we should
ask ourselves: How do I want to be saved? On my own? Through a spirituality
which is good, but fixed and clear so that there are no risks? Or following the
footsteps of Jesus who always surprises us, opening doors to that mystery of
Gods mercy and pardon?
If I dont follow Jesus but go looking for other gurus and seek refuge in man-made
commandments, the Pope concluded, I may feel safe but the truth is I am buying
my salvation, instead of receiving the free gift that God gives me.
(from Vatican Radio)
10/3/2014 Pope Francis: Are we open or closed to God's way of salvation?
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-are-we-open-or-closed-to-gods-way-of 3/3
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