During the Mass celebrated this Monday, March 18 at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis encouraged this Lent to imitate the Father's mercy so as not to judge others, not to condemn and forgive.
In his homily, the Holy Father delved into the passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke from chapter 6 in which Jesus indicates the importance of being compassionate, for which the Pope advised that "in order not to make mistakes" in life it is necessary to imitate goodbye.
Three practical tips
In the Gospel Jesus exhorts not to judge, not to condemn and to forgive. Pope Francis pointed out that above all judging "is a bad habit" from which it is important to refrain, especially in this season of Lent.
"It's a habit that gets into our lives even without us realizing it," warned the Pope, who invited us to think "how many times a day we judge" and examine our comments because "we should not judge."
And finally, the Holy Father encouraged "forgiveness, even if it is 'so difficult,' because our actions give God the measure of how he should deal with us."
Along these lines, the Pontiff explained that generosity makes it possible to renounce gossip in which "we continually judge, continually condemn and hardly forgive."
Therefore, the Pope invited to be generous when giving. “The Lord teaches us: 'Give.' 'Give and it will be given to you'. Don't be 'closed pockets'; be generous in giving to the poor, and also to those who need many things: give advice, give people smiles, smile. Always give, give.”
“The Lord will be generous: we give one and He will give us a hundred of all we give. And this is the attitude that shields us from judging, condemning and forgiving,” the Pope explained.
Finally, the Holy Father highlighted the importance of almsgiving, “but not only material alms, but also spiritual alms; wasting time with someone in need, visiting a sick person, smiling.”
Report inappropriate ads |Gospel commented by Pope Francis:
Luke 6:36-38
36 “Be compassionate, as your Father is compassionate. 37 Do not judge and you will not be judged, do not condemn and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven.38 Give and it will be given to you; They will put a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing, in the lap of your clothes. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."