POPE TALK | KAIROS GLOBAL | JANUARY 2021

Author: Dr Kochurani Joseph

Humans are not alone in praying

There resounds in us the multiform cry of creatures – of trees, of rocks, of animals – as St. Paul says ‘everything yearns for fulfilment’. But we are the only ones to pray consciously, knowing that we are addressing the Father, and entering into dialogue with the Father. At times we can feel self-sufficient and believe we do not need anything from God. But sooner or later, this illusion vanishes. The Lord always provides for us – always, and everything is grace of God. However, we must not suffocate the supplication that rises up in us spontaneously. In the Our Father we pray first for the coming of God’s Kingdom and then for what we require. We also pray for the simplest gifts, for everyday gifts, such as ‘daily bread’ which also means health, home, work and our everyday needs. 

God entrusted St. Joseph with the most precious treasures, Jesus and Mary 

St. Joseph responded fully with faith, courage and tenderness to God’s call with a father’s heart. Let us invoke his protection on the Church and learn from him to always do God’s will with humility. My desire to do so increased during these months of pandemic noting that many people had made hidden sacrifices during the crisis in order to protect others. Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. St. Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation.  I recall what I said earlier that I have great love for St. Joseph, because he is a man of silence and strength. On my table I have a statue of the sleeping St. Joseph. Even when he is asleep, he is taking care of the Church. So when I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little note and I put it underneath this statue of St. Joseph, so that he can dream about it – that he can pray for this problem. 

Every true vocation is born of the gift of oneself 

Each vocation is the fruit of mature sacrifice. Whatever our vocation, whether to marriage, celibacy or virginity, our gift of self will not come to fulfilment if it stops at sacrifice.  Instead of becoming a sign of the beauty and joy of love, the gift of self would risk being an expression of unhappiness, sadness and frustration. The priesthood and consecrated life likewise require this kind of maturity. It rejects those who confuse authority with authoritarianism, service with servility, discussion with oppression, charity with a welfare mentality, power with destruction. 

Avoid the temptation of seeking ‘utopia’ in this world 

Remembering our baptism and the promise of eternal life can help us avoid the temptation to seek ‘utopia’ in this world. This attitude helps us not only to avoid but also to overcome the temptation of utopia, to reduce the proclamation of the Gospel to a simple sociological horizon or to get involved in the ‘marketing’ of various economic theories or political factions. Christians have received ‘Life in Baptism,’ explaining that it is a gift which calls us to communion with God, with others, and with creation.  The reality is that a small part of humanity lives in opulence, while an ever increasing number are denied dignity and their most basic rights are ignored or violated. Be God’s people, not God’s elite. This is possible by living a life of charity by making projects of a new inclusive economy, and politics capable of fruitful love.

The Church is the work of the Holy Spirit 

Catholics risk going astray if they neglect the four essential characteristics of Church life.  The four fundamental qualities were present in the early Church as described in the Book of Acts – listening to the apostles’ teaching, safeguarding of mutual communion, breaking of the bread, and prayer.  Any situation needs to be evaluated in the light of these four coordinates. Whatever is not part of these coordinates lacks being ecclesial.  It is God who creates the Church, not the clamour of works. The Church is the work of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus sent to gather us together. The four coordinates can be used to judge whether a situation is truly ecclesial. If any of the coordinates is lacking, then the Holy Spirit will also be absent.  If the Holy Spirit is lacking, we are a beautiful organisation, humanitarian, doing good things… even an ecclesial party, let’s put it that way. But not the Church. 

Prepare to meet the Lord with good deeds inspired by his love

It is important not to forget that at the end of one’s life there will be a definitive appointment with God. If we want to be ready for the final encounter with the Lord, we must cooperate with him now and perform good deeds inspired by his love. Being wise and prudent means not waiting until the last moment to correspond to God’s grace, but to do so actively and immediately, starting right now.  Not only the final coming, but also for the everyday encounters, great and small, with a view to that encounter, for which the lamp of faith is not enough; we also need the oil of charity and good works.

Pope Francis says …

What opens the gates of paradise to us is God’s grace, received by us with faithfulness.

The contemporary world requires examples of true fatherhood.

God is patient and never stops waiting for a sinner’s conversion. 

Consistent prayer produces progressive transformation.

Disabled people must also have access to the sacraments.

The Immaculate Conception is one of the wonders of the ‘story of salvation’.

January

Promotion of World Peace

We pray that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote peace and justice in the world.