WORLD DAY OF THE POOR

MASS

HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS

Saint Peter's Basilica

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time,

November 13, 2022

________________________________________________

While some speak of the Temple's outward beauty and admire its stones, Jesus draws attention to the turbulent and dramatic events that mark human history. Indeed, while the Temple, built by human hands, will pass away, as all things in this world pass away, it is important to discern the times in which we live, so that we may remain disciples of the Gospel even amidst the upheavals of history.

And, to show us how to discern, the Lord offers us two exhortations: do not be led astray and bear witness.

The first thing Jesus says to his listeners, preoccupied with the "when" and "how" of the terrifying events he speaks of, is: "Be careful not to be led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' or, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them" (Luke 21:8). And he adds: "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified" (v. 9). And this is what is happening to us right now. From what deception, then, does Jesus want to free us? From the temptation to read the most dramatic events superstitiously or catastrophically, as if we were now near the end of the world and it were no longer worthwhile to engage in anything good. When we think this way, we allow ourselves to be guided by fear, and perhaps we seek answers, with a morbid curiosity, in the nonsense of soothsayers or horoscopes, which are never lacking—and today many Christians consult soothsayers, look at horoscopes as if they were the voice of God—or, again, we place our trust in fanciful theories put forward by some last-minute "messiah," generally always defeatist and conspiratorial. The psychology of conspiracy is bad; it does harm. The Spirit of the Lord is not found there: neither in seeking out a guru, nor in this mindset of conspiracy; the Lord is not there. Jesus warns us: "Do not be led astray," do not be dazzled by credulous curiosity, do not face events driven by fear, but rather learn to read events with the eyes of faith, certain that by remaining close to God "not a hair of your head will perish" (v. 18).

While human history is punctuated by dramatic events, painful situations, wars, revolutions, and calamities, it is equally true—as Jesus says—that all this is not the end (cf. 9). This is no reason to be paralyzed by fear or to succumb to the defeatism of those who think that all is lost now, and that it is pointless to engage with life. The disciple of the Lord does not allow himself to be atrophied by resignation; he does not give in to discouragement, even in the most difficult situations, because his God is the God of resurrection and hope, who always lifts us up: with Him, we can always look up, begin again, and start anew. The Christian then asks himself, in the face of trial, whatever the trial may be—cultural, historical, or personal: "What is the Lord telling us through this moment of crisis?" I, too, ask this question today: what is the Lord telling us through this third world war? What is the Lord telling us? And, as bad events occur that bring poverty and suffering, the Christian asks himself: "What, concretely, can I do good?" Not to run away, but to ask the question, what is the Lord telling me, what good can I do?

It is no coincidence that Jesus' second exhortation, which follows "do not be led astray," is positive. He says, "This will lead to your bearing witness" (v. 13). An opportunity to bear witness. I would like to emphasize this beautiful word: opportunity. It means having the possibility of doing something good from life's circumstances, even when they are not ideal. This is a beautiful, typically Christian art: not to remain victims of what happens—Christians are not victims, and the psychology of victimhood is harmful—but to seize the opportunity hidden in everything that happens to us, the good that is possible—that little good that can be done—and also to build from negative situations. Every crisis is an opportunity and offers chances for growth. Because every crisis is open to the presence of God, to the presence of humanity. But what does the evil spirit want us to do? It wants us to transform the crisis into a conflict, and conflict is always closed, without horizon or outcome. No. Let us experience this crisis as human beings, as Christians, and not transform it into conflict, for every crisis is a possibility and an opportunity for growth. We realize this when we reflect on our personal history: in life, often, the most significant steps forward are taken precisely within certain crises, situations of trial, loss of control, and insecurity. And then, we understand the invitation that Jesus addresses today directly to me, to you, to each of us: while you see upsetting events around you, while wars and conflicts erupt, while earthquakes, famines, and plagues occur, what are you doing? What am I doing? Are you distracting yourself so as not to think about it? Are you entertaining yourself so as not to get involved? Are you taking the path of worldliness, the path of not taking charge, of not taking these dramatic situations to heart? Are you turning away so as not to see? Do you adapt, submissive and resigned, to what happens? Or do these situations become opportunities to bear witness to the Gospel? Today, each of us must ask ourselves, faced with so many calamities, with this cruel third world war, with the hunger of so many children, of so many people: can I waste, waste money, waste my life, waste the meaning of my life without taking the courage to move forward?

Brothers and sisters, on this World Day of the Poor, the Word of Jesus is a powerful warning to break through the inner deafness we all possess, which prevents us from hearing the stifled cry of pain of the most vulnerable. Even today, we live in wounded societies and witness, as the Gospel tells us, scenes of violence—one need only think of the cruelty suffered by the Ukrainian people—injustice, and persecution. Moreover, we must confront the crisis brought about by climate change and the pandemic, which has left behind a trail of suffering that is not only physical, but also psychological, economic, and social. Even today, brothers and sisters, we see peoples rising up against peoples, and we watch with anguish as conflicts escalate, as the tragedy of war claims the lives of so many innocent people and multiplies the poison of hatred. Even today, far more than yesterday, many brothers and sisters, weary and discouraged, migrate in search of hope, and many live in precarious conditions due to lack of work or unjust and undignified working conditions. And even today, the poor are the most penalized victims of every crisis. But if our hearts are stifled and indifferent, we cannot hear their faint cry of pain, weep with them and for them, see how much loneliness and anguish lurk even in the forgotten corners of our cities. It is necessary to go to the hidden corners of cities, these concealed and dark spaces: there, we see much misery and much suffering, and much rejected poverty.

Let us embrace the Gospel's strong and clear invitation not to be deceived. Let us not listen to the prophets of doom; let us not be seduced by the sirens of populism, which exploits the needs of the people by offering simplistic and hasty solutions. Let us not follow the false "messiahs" who, in the name of profit, proclaim formulas that only increase the wealth of a few, condemning the poor to marginalization. On the contrary, let us bear witness: let us light candles of hope in the midst of darkness; let us seize, in dramatic situations, opportunities to bear witness to the Gospel of joy and build a fraternal world, at least a little more fraternal; let us commit ourselves courageously to justice, equality, and peace, always standing alongside the most vulnerable. Let us not flee from history to defend ourselves, but let us fight to give this history we are living through a different face.

And where do we find the strength for all of this? In the Lord. In trusting in God, who is Father and who watches over us. If we open our hearts to Him, He will increase our capacity to love. This is the way: to grow in love. Indeed, after speaking of scenarios of violence and terror, Jesus concludes by saying, “Not a hair of your head will perish” (v. 18). But what does this mean? That He is with us, He is our guardian, He walks with us. Do I have this faith? Do you have this faith that the Lord walks with you? We must always repeat this to ourselves, especially in the most painful moments: God is Father and He is by my side, He knows me and He loves me, He watches over me, He never sleeps, He takes care of me, and with Him, not a single hair of my head will perish. And how do I respond to this? Looking at brothers and sisters in need, looking at this throwaway culture that pushes aside the poor, that pushes aside those with fewer opportunities, that pushes aside the elderly, that pushes aside unborn children… Looking at all this, what do I feel I should do as a Christian at this moment?

Beloved by Him, let us resolve to love the most rejected children. The Lord is there. There is an old tradition, still observed by some in small Italian villages: at Christmas dinner, leave a place free for the Lord, who will surely knock at the door in the person of a poor person in need. Does your heart always have a place free for these people? Does my heart always have a place free for these people? Or are we so busy with friends, social events, and obligations? Do we never have a place free for these people? Let us care for the poor, in whom dwells Christ, who, for our sake, became poor (cf. 2 Cor 8:9). He identifies with the poor. Let us feel called to do so that not a hair of their head is lost. We cannot remain, like those in the Gospel, admiring the beautiful stones of the Temple without recognizing the true Temple of God: the human being, man and woman, especially the poor, in whose face, in whose story, in whose wounds, we find Jesus. He said it himself. Let us never forget it.