And Francis pointed out that although some do not like to admit it: those who are closest to the heart of Jesus are sinners, because He goes to look for them, calls them and heals them, while those who are in good health do not need a doctor: “ I have come to heal, to save." - Pope Francis
I'm reminded of John Paul I when the Holy Father says such things.
Today lay people are better catechized, more involved in Church affairs - parish activities such as RCIA and social outreach, they are pedigreed with Religious Ed certificates, as well as theological degrees, and so on. Stop and think how many husbands and wives working ordinary jobs with academic degrees in philosophy and theology or religious studies - just from Steubenville alone. A priest friend made note of that in a conversation last summer, when he told me he was going to have some meetings with his teachers and would give them Sherry Weddell’s book “Forming Intentional Disciples”. He praised his people for their knowledge of doctrine and Church teaching, but expressed the fear they do not pray... that the faith was perhaps too cerebral. He said pretty much what both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis have said.
We can argue and debate about the faith. We can blame one another for the crisis. We can gage one another's orthodoxy and liturgical practice. We can spot liturgical abuse. We can make ourselves inquisitors and reveal the errors of others - day in and day out. We can stand our ground, go to the wall when we are attacked. But do we know what the Pope is talking about?
A lot of people on line say they don't.
The Pope concluded his homily reflecting on how some saints say that one of the ugliest sins is distrust: distrust in God. “But how can we be wary of a God who is so close, so good, who prefers the sinful heart ?" . This mystery – he said - is not easy to understand with intelligence, but with the help of these three words: "contemplation, proximity and abundance” because God "always wins with the superabundance of his grace, with His tenderness ", with His wealth of mercy." - Vatican News
