Iraq, Francis: blessed is not being a hero every now and then but a witness always

Jesus changes history "with the humble power of love". At Mass in the Baghdad Cathedral at the end of his second day of the apostolic journey, the Pope reflects on the meaning of the Beatitudes and encourages the faithful to witness daily the lifestyle led by Jesus, which overturns the human mentality.

Adriana Masotti - Vatican City After an intense day that took him from Najaf to Ur of the Chaldeans, Francis returns to Baghdad to preside over Mass with the local community according to the Chaldean rite. The celebration takes place in the cathedral inaugurated by the Chaldean Patriarch Yusef VII Ghanima in 1956, which can accommodate more than 400 faithful. Francis is welcomed by the architecture illuminated by the stained glass windows: the interior is organized to respect the three conventional parts of the Eastern Syrian churches, but in a modern style. The part reserved for the assembly, the choir and the altar with a carved wooden frontal in the center. In the right side aisle there is the icon of the Madonna Odigitria, in the left side that of St. Joseph with the carpenter's square and the lily, symbols of righteousness and purity, together with the adolescent Jesus. The Chaldean community, the young people, have been preparing for this moment for a long time and welcome the Pope with their songs. Francis and the other celebrants wear white vestments.

God's Wisdom overturns human categories The languages ​​that accompany the Eucharistic celebration are Italian, Chaldean and Arabic and for the prayers of the faithful also the Sourath-Aramaic dialect, Kurdish, Turkmen and English. There are three key words contained in the homily that the Pope pronounces in Italian and which are suggested by the Readings: wisdom, witness, promises. "The wisdom in these lands has been cultivated since ancient times", Francis immediately observes. In the world today, he says, we are witnessing an "unacceptable inequality" between those who have more knowledge and therefore opportunities and those who have less. However, it is not of human wisdom that the Pope speaks, but of that praised in the Book of Wisdom that overturns the categories of the world. For God the least are the privileged. Jesus, Francis affirms, "completes this reversal in the Gospel" by announcing the eight Beatitudes reported by the evangelist Matthew. (Listen to the report with the Pope's voice)

The reversal is total: the poor, those who weep, the persecuted are called blessed. How is it possible? Blessed for the world are the rich, the powerful, the famous! Who has, who can, who counts! For God no: the one who has is no longer great, but the one who is poor in spirit; not those who can do everything over others, but those who are gentle with everyone; not who is acclaimed by the crowds, but who is merciful to his brother. Jesus defeated death The perspective of Jesus raises a doubt that the Pope makes explicit: if I live as Jesus wants, what comes to me? Do I make money or is your proposal a loser? Francesco replies:

Jesus' proposal is wise because love, which is the heart of the Beatitudes, even if it seems weak in the eyes of the world, actually wins. On the cross he proved stronger than sin, in the tomb he defeated death. It is the same love that made martyrs victorious in the trial, and how many there have been in the last century, more than in the previous ones! Love is our strength, the strength of so many brothers and sisters who here too have suffered prejudices and offenses, mistreatments and persecutions for the name of Jesus.

The world changes with the witness of every moment Only love remains, the apostle Paul affirms in the second reading. Living the Beatitudes, the Pope continues, is making what we do eternal, but they do not require extraordinary gestures, rather "daily witness". And he continues: Blessed are those who live with meekness, those who practice mercy where they are, those who keep their hearts pure where they live. To become blessed one must not be heroes every now and then, but witnesses every day. Witness is the way to incarnate the wisdom of Jesus. This is how the world is changed: not with power or force, but with the Beatitudes.

Love is creative and always starts over Speaking of charity, St. Paul surprises us: he says that it "is magnanimous" and the Pope comments by clarifying that the word "magnanimous" in the Bible "tells of God's patience" and recalls that throughout history man has so many times betrayed the covenant with the Lord, he fell into sin, but the Lord did not tire of him and "every time he remained faithful, he forgave, he started again":

The patience to start over each time is the first quality of love, because love is not indignant, but always starts again. He is not saddened, but relaunches; don't get discouraged, but stay creative. In the face of evil he does not give up, he does not resign. Those who love do not close in on themselves when things go wrong, but respond to evil with good, remembering the victorious wisdom of the cross. The witness of God does this: he is not passive, fatalistic, he does not live at the mercy of circumstances, instinct and the moment, but he is always hopeful, because founded in the love that "excuses everything, believes everything, hopes everything, everything endures ".

God's promises and our weaknesses Francis invites everyone to ask himself how he behaves when something is wrong: does he run away, does he react with anger? But neither of these two reactions solve the problems. Jesus, on the other hand, continues the Pope, "changed history with the humble power of love". If we do this too, he asserts, "God fulfills his promises". In fact, in every Beatitude a promise follows witness: God's promises ensure unrivaled joy and do not disappoint. But how are they accomplished? Through our weaknesses. God blesses those who walk the path of their inner poverty to the end. This is the way, there is no other.

The many precious witnesses before the Lord on Iraqi land Francis dwells on the theme of human limitations and cites several examples reported in the Scriptures: Abraham and Sarah in their old age, Moses who feels awkward in speaking, Our Lady herself who is not yet married "is called to become a mother". It is Peter who denies Jesus but who will then confirm his brothers in the faith. The Pope wishes to encourage those who feel incapable or disappointed and stresses that "God wants to work wonders precisely through our weaknesses". The concluding words are of gratitude to the Lord because precisely in Iraqi land so many have known how to live according to the Beatitudes: Dear sister, dear brother, perhaps you look at your hands and they seem empty to you, perhaps in your heart there is distrust and you do not feel rewarded by life. If so, do not fear: the Beatitudes are for you, for you who are afflicted, hungry and thirsty for justice, persecuted. The Lord promises you that your name is written in his heart, in the Heavens! And today I thank Him with you and for you, because here, where wisdom arose in ancient times, many witnesses have arisen in these times, often overlooked by the news, but precious in the eyes of God; witnesses who, by living the Beatitudes, help God to fulfill his promises of peace.

Patriarch Sako's thanks to the Pope "Your presence among us, as a pilgrim who prays for a more human, more fraternal, more supportive, more peaceful world fills us with hope": thus Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, in his address of greeting to Pope at the end of the celebration. His words speak of joy and gratitude. The cardinal recalls the message of brotherhood, hope and openness that Pope Francis brought with his visit and underlines its validity. "Yes, Your Holiness, all parties should consider themselves to be of the same family, take care of the common home and solidarity, and contribute to emerging from the suffocating crises such as the coronavirus pandemic, poverty, emigration, extremism, terrorism and environmental problems. To carry out this vital project, a spiritual and moral awakening is necessary ".

A visit that confirms the vocation of Christians in Iraq Patriarch Sako says he is certain that the Pope's visit "will encourage Iraqis to overcome the painful past, in view of national reconciliation, healing from wounds, cohesion and cooperation for growth, peace and stability, simply because they are different brothers and citizens of the land of Abraham, and because Iraq is their common home ". For Christians, he continues, the arrival of Francis is an opportunity for conversion and confirmation of their "Iraqi and Christian identity", and a stimulus to understand that as Christians "we have a vocation and a mission that we cannot give up despite difficulties"

VATICAN NEWS ~ ITALY ~ HOLY SEE PRESS (Translated to English 03/07/2021) Per https://www.vaticannews.va/it/papa/news/2021-03/papa-francesco-iraq-viaggio-apostolico-omelia-messa-baghdad.html