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| MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
JOHN PAUL II FOR LENT 2003 |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. Lent is a season of intense prayer, fasting and concern for those
in need. It offers all Christians an opportunity to prepare for
Easter by serious discernment about their lives, with particular
attention to the word of God which enlightens the daily journey
of all who believe.
This year, as a guide for our Lenten meditation, I would offer a
phrase taken from the Acts of the Apostles: "It is more blessed
to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). What we have here is
not simply a moral exhortation, or a command which comes to us from
without. The inclination to give is rooted in the depths of the
human heart: every person is conscious of a desire to interact with
others and everyone finds fulfilment in a free gift of self to others.
2. Our age, regrettably, is particularly susceptible to the temptation
toward selfishness which always lurks within the human heart. In
society generally, and in the media, people are bombarded by messages
which more or less openly exalt the ephemeral and the hedonistic.
Concern for others is certainly shown whenever natural disasters,
war and other emergencies strike, but in general it is difficult
to build a culture of solidarity. The spirit of the world affects
our inner propensity to give ourselves unselfishly to others and
drives us to satisfy our own particular interests. The desire to
possess ever more is encouraged. Surely it is natural and right
that people, by using their own gifts and by their own labour, should
work to obtain what they need to live, but an excessive desire for
possessions prevents human beings from being open to their Creator
and to their brothers and sisters. The words of Paul to Timothy
remain relevant in every age: "The love of money is the root
of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered
away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs"
(1 Tim 6:10)!
Exploitation of others, indifference towards the suffering of our
brothers and sisters, and the violation of basic rules of morality
are just a few fruits of the thirst for gain. Faced with the tragic
situation of persistent poverty which afflicts so many people in
our world, how can we fail to see that the quest for profit at any
cost and the lack of effective, responsible concern for the common
good have concentrated immense resources in the hands of a few while
the rest of humanity suffers in poverty and neglect?
Appealing to believers and to all people of good will, I would like
to reaffirm a principle which is self-evident yet often ignored:
our goal should not be the benefit of a privileged few, but rather
the improvement of the living conditions of all. Only on this foundation
can we build that international order truly marked by justice and
solidarity which is the hope of everyone.
3. "It is more blessed to give than to receive". When
believers respond to the inner impulse to give themselves to others
without expecting anything in return, they experience a profound
interior satisfaction.
The efforts of Christians to promote justice, their commitment in
defence of the powerless, their humanitarian work in providing bread
for the hungry and their care for the sick by responding to every
emergency and need, draw their strength from that sole and inexhaustible
treasury of love which is the complete gift of Jesus to the Father.
Believers are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ,
true God and true man, who, in perfect obedience to the will of
the Father, emptied himself (cf. Phil 2:6 ff), and humbly gave himself
to us in selfless and total love, even unto death on a cross. Calvary
eloquently proclaims the message of the Blessed Trinity's love for
human beings of all times and places.
Saint Augustine points out that only God, as the Supreme Good, is
capable of overcoming the various forms of poverty present in our
world. Mercy and love for one's neighbour must therefore be the
fruit of a living relationship with God and have God as their constant
point of reference, since it is in closeness to Christ that we find
our joy (cf. De Civitate Dei, X, 6; CCL 39:1351ff).
4. The Son of God loved us first, while "we were yet sinners"
(Rom 5:6), with an unconditional love which asks nothing in return.
If this is so, how can we fail to see the season of Lent as a providential
opportunity to make courageous decisions inspired by altruism and
generosity? Lent offers us the practical and effective weapons of
fasting and almsgiving as a means of combating an excessive attachment
to money. Giving not only from our abundance, but sacrificing something
more in order to give to the needy, fosters that self-denial which
is essential to authentic Christian living. Strengthened by constant
prayer, the baptized reveal the priority which they have given to
God in their lives.
The love of God poured into our hearts ought to inspire and transform
who we are and what we do. Christians must not think that they can
seek the true good of their brothers and sisters without embodying
the charity of Christ. Even in those cases where they might succeed
in improving important aspects of social or political life, without
charity every change would remain short-lived. The possibility of
giving oneself to others is itself a gift which comes from the grace
of God. As Saint Paul teaches: "God is at work in you, both
to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Phil 2:13).
5. To modern men and women, often dissatisfied with a shallow and
ephemeral existence and in search of authentic happiness and love,
Christ offers his own example and issues the invitation to follow
him. He asks those who hear his voice to give their lives for others.
This sacrifice is a source of self-fulfilment and joy, as is seen
in the eloquent example of those men and women who, leaving all
security behind, have not hesitated to risk their lives as missionaries
in different parts of the world. It can also be seen in the response
of those young people who, prompted by faith, have embraced a vocation
to the priesthood or the religious life in order to serve God's
plan of salvation. It is likewise the experience of the growing
number of volunteers who readily devote themselves to helping the
poor, the elderly, the sick and all those in need.
Recently, we have witnessed a praiseworthy outpouring of solidarity
for the victims of floods in Europe, earthquakes in Latin America
and Italy, epidemics in Africa, volcanic eruptions in the Phillippines,
as well as for other areas of the world scarred by hatred, violence
and war.
In these situations, the communications media play a significant
role by allowing us to identify with and offer ready help to the
suffering and those in distress. At times it is not the Christian
command of love, but rather an innate sense of compassion which
motivates our efforts to assist others. Even so, anyone who helps
those in need always enjoys God's favour. In the Acts of the Apostles
we read that the disciple Tabitha was saved because she had done
good to her neighbour (cf. 9:36 ff). The centurion Cornelius obtained
eternal life on account of his generosity (cf. ibid., 10: 2-31).
For those who are "far-off", service to the needy can
be a providential path leading to an encounter with Christ, since
the Lord abundantly repays the good deeds done to one's neighbour
(cf. Mt 25:40).
It is my fervent hope that believers will find this Lent a favorable
time for bearing witness to the Gospel of charity in every place,
since the vocation to charity is the heart of all true evangelization.
To this end I invoke the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church
and pray that she will accompany us on our Lenten journey. With
these sentiments I affectionately impart to all my blessing.
From the Vatican, 7 January 2003
JOANNES PAULUS II |
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