If we wish to follow Christ closely, we cannot choose an easy, quiet life. It will be a demanding life, but full of joy.
Interpretation
Following Christ requires commitment and sacrifice, but brings genuine joy.
This quote by Pope Francis emphasizes that a true commitment to following Christ is not about pursuing comfort or an easy life, but rather about embracing challenges and demands that come with faith. Despite its difficulties, this path leads to profound joy and fulfillment.
In practice
In a sermon, one could use this quote to inspire parishioners to embrace the struggles of their faith.
We are a church of sinners but we must not be afraid of holiness. Do not be afraid to aim for holiness and turn yourselves over to the love of God. Holiness does not mean performing extraordinary things but carrying out daily things in an extraordinary way that is with love, joy and faith.
I join the March for Life in Washington with my prayers. May God help us respect all life, especially the most vulnerable.
No one must say that they cannot be close to the poor because their own lifestyle demands more attention to other areas. This is an excuse commonly heard in academic, business or professional, and even ecclesial circles. While it is quite true that the essential vocation and mission of the lay faithful is to strive that earthly realities and all human activity may be transformed by the Gospel, none of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice
We face so many challenges in life: poverty, distress, humiliation, the struggle for justice, persecutions, the difficulty of daily conversion, the effort to remain faithful to our call to holiness, and many others. But if we open the door to Jesus and allow him to be part of our lives, if we share our joys and sorrows with him, then we will experience the peace and joy that only God, who is infinite love, can give.
More and more people work on Sundays as a consequence of the competitiveness imposed by a consumer society.
This Christmas may we be consistent in living the Gospel, welcoming Jesus into the centre of our lives.
Compassion without wisdom is dangerous. It's what enables people to support the 'underdog,' even if the underdog is evil
When you are ignorant about something, to know that you are ignorant about it - that is knowledge.
Our wise old church...has discovered that if you will act as if you believed belief will be given to you; if you pray with doubt, but pray with sincerity, your doubt will be dispelled; if you will surrender yourself to the beauty of that liturgy the power of which over the human spirit has been proved by the experience of the ages, peace will descend upon you.
One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.
If you are on the right path you will find that invisible hands are helping.
Sorrow is a kind of rust of the soul, which every new idea contributes in its passage to scour away. It is the putrefaction of stagnant life, and is remedied by exercise and motion.
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