In the introduction to your speechhas told them that "it is beautiful to belong to a Church formed by the history of diverse faces, which find harmony in the one face of Jesus.". Taking foot of the geography and culture of the country, les ha hablado del agua que riega y hace fructificar tantas zonas de desierto. A beautiful image of Christian life as the fruit of faith and the Holy Spirit:
“Emerge a la superficie nuestra humanidad, demacrada por muchas fragilidades, miedos, desafíos que debe afrontar, males personales y sociales de distinto tipo; pero en el fondo del alma, bien adentro, en lo íntimo del corazón, corre serena y silenciosa el agua dulce del Espíritu, que riega nuestros desiertos, vuelve a dar vigor a lo que amenaza con secarse, lava lo que nos degrada, sacia nuestra sed de felicidad.
Y siempre renueva la vida. Esta es el agua viva de la que habla Jesús, esta es la fuente de vida nueva que nos promete: el don del Espíritu Santo, la presencia tierna, amorosa y revitalizadora de Dios en nosotros".
Pope Francis.
In a second moment, the Pope stops at a scene from the Gospel according to St. John. Jesus is in the temple in Jerusalem. The feast of Tabernacles is celebrated, in which the people bless God, thanking him for the gift of the land and the crops and remembering the Covenant. The most important rite of that feast was when the high priest took water from the pool of Siloam and poured it outside the walls of the city, in the midst of the jubilant songs of the people, to express that from Jerusalem would flow a great blessing for all peoples (cfr Ps 87, 7 and especially Ez 47, 1-12).
In this context Jesus, standing up, cries out: "Whoever thirsts, let him come to me and live, and out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." (Jn 7:37-38). The evangelist says that he was referring to the Holy Spirit that the Christians would receive in Pentecost. And Francisco observes: "Jesus dies on the cross. At that moment, it is no longer from the temple of stones, but from the open side of Christ that the water of new life will flow, the life-giving water of the Holy Spirit, destined to regenerate all humanity, freeing it from sin and death".
Pope Francis' trip to the Muslim kingdom of Bahrain. Source VaticansNews.
From there, el Papa señala tres grandes dones that come with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and asks us to welcome and live: joy, unity and 'prophecy'.
First of all, the Holy Spirit is a source of joy. Con ella viene la certeza de no estar nunca solos, porque Él nos acompaña, nos consuela y nos sostiene en las dificultades; nos anima para lograr los deseos más grandes y nos abre al asombro ante la belleza de la vida. No se trata –observa el sucesor de Pedro– de una emoción momentánea. Y menos, de esa especia de alegría consumista e individualista presente en algunas experiencias culturales de hoy.
Al contrario, la alegría que proviene del Espíritu Santo, viene de saber que, cuando estamos unidos a Dios, incluso en medio de nuestras fatigas y 'noches oscuras', podemos afrontar todo, incluso el dolor, el duelo y la muerte.
And the best way to preserve and multiply that joy," says Francis, "is to give it. From the EucharistWe can and must spread this joy, especially among young people, families and vocations, with enthusiasm and creativity.
Secondly, the Holy Spirit is the source of unity porque nos hace hijos de Dios Padre (cfr Rm 8, 15-16) y por tanto hermanos y hermanas entre nosotros. Y por eso no tienen sentido los egoísmos, las divisiones y las murmuraciones entre nosotros. El Espíritu Santo –señala el Papa– inaugura el único lenguaje del amor, abate las barreras de la desconfianza y del odio, y crea espacios de acogida y diálogo.
Nos libera del miedo y nos da valentía para ir al encuentro de los otros con el poder desarmarte de la misericordia. The Spirit is capable of forging unity, not in uniformity but in harmony.amidst a great diversity of people, races and cultures.
And, Francisco stresses, "this is the strength of the Christian community, the first witness that we can give to the world (...) Let us live fraternity among ourselves (...), valuing the charisms of all"..
Finally, the Holy Spirit is the source of prophecy. In the history of salvation we find many prophets whom God calls, consecrates and sends as witnesses and interpreters of what He wants to say to the people. Often the words of the prophets are penetrating. Thus, Francis points out, they They "call by name the evil projects that nestle in people's hearts, call into crisis the false human and religious securities, and invite to conversion".
Well, all Christians have this prophetic vocation. Since the baptismThe Holy Spirit has made us prophets. "And as such we cannot pretend that we do not see the works of evil, stay in a quiet life so as not to get our hands dirty."
On the contrary -he adds- every Christian must sooner or later become involved in the problems of others, bear witness, bring the light of the Gospel message, practicar las bienaventuranzas en las situaciones de cada día, que nos llevan a buscar el amor, la justicia y la paz, y a rechazar toda forma de egoísmo, violencia y degradación.
Y pone el ejemplo del interés por los presos y sus necesidades. "For in the treatment of the least (cf. Mt 25:40) is found the measure of the dignity and hope of a society.".
In short, and this is Francis' message, Christians are called - also in a time when conflicts abound - to bring joy, to promote unity (comenzando dentro de la Iglesia) y a implicarnos con las cosas que no van bien en la sociedad. Para todo ello tenemos la luz y la fuerza de la gracia que proviene del Espíritu Santo.
Como fruto de la entrega de Cristo, el Espíritu nos hace hijos de Dios y hermanos entre nosotros para que extendamos por el mundo el mensaje del Evangelio, que es buena noticia para todos, a la vez que nos invita a trabajar por el bien de todos.
Mr. Ramiro Pellitero Iglesias, profesor de Teología pastoral en la Facultad de Teología de la Universidad de Navarra.
Published in Church and new evangelization.
