Pope Leo XIV warned yesterday against imagining God as “a powerful figure who imposes himself by force, who takes over and dominates, or who arrives triumphantly” and urged Christians to embrace a Gospel-centred approach marked by humility and trust. Source: EWTN News.
Speaking before the Angelus prayer in Liberty Square at Castel Gandolfo, where he is spending several weeks of rest until July 27, the Pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading.
Following the parable of the sower, Jesus addresses the crowds through the images of the good wheat and the weeds, the mustard seed, and the yeast in the dough, the Pope noted.
“These three short parables recall the coming of the kingdom of God in history, its action in human lives, and the way it grows, expands, and transforms the world from within,” Pope Leo said.
Through these images, he continued, Jesus warns against thinking of God principally in terms of power, domination, and triumph.
“Instead, God favours smallness, a sign of his discreet love, by which he leaves us free to accept or reject him,” the Pope said.
“His love makes its presence felt even among the weeds, acts in a hidden and invisible way like the smallest of all seeds, and leavens the dough without making a sound.”
Pope Leo said believers sometimes expect God to act in dramatic and immediately visible ways.
“We imagine a strong and powerful God, and, unfortunately, we also model our way of being Christians and way of being the Church on this image.”
The kingdom of God, however, continues to grow quietly even amid evil, the Pope said.
“However, the kingdom of God spreads even amidst the weeds, requiring us to train our vision so we can discern the good that sprouts despite the darkness of evil, and avoiding rash judgments,” he said.
Pope Leo then urged Catholics to apply this divine way of acting to both their personal lives and the life of the Church.
“We are called to adopt a Gospel-centred approach, without hastily opposing others through arrogant judgments, without imposing ourselves through power and force, and without losing trust in God’s work.”
After the recitation of the Angelus, Pope Leo said he continues to follow “with concern the events unfolding in various countries torn apart by war and violence”, Vatican News reports.
The Pope then renewed his greetings and gratitude to all the residents of Castel Gandolfo and warmly welcomed the pilgrims “from every part of the world”.
Speaking in English, he greeted Australian pilgrims taking part in “The Lion Pilgrimage”, accompanied by Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Percy.
FULL STORY
Pope Leo XIV calls for evangelical approach without force or ‘arrogant judgments’ (By Victoria Cardiel, EWTN News)
Pope Leo: May we not forget those who suffer and die due to war (By Alessandro Di Bussolo, Vatican News)
