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APOSTOLIC JOURNEY
OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II TO THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC
HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II, Rožnava, Saturday, 13 September 2003 |
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1. “I beg you brothers to lead
a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called”
(Eph 4:1). The pressing invitation of the Apostle Paul to the Christian
community of Ephesus takes on special meaning for us congregated
here. To every believer is entrusted, in the diversity of vocations
and charisms, the task of being both disciple and apostle: disciple,
by humbly listening to the word that saves; apostle by giving passionate
witness of a life formed by the Gospel.
A Slovak proverb says: “Words admonish, examples move”.
Yes, dear Brothers and Sisters, you too, with the “style”
of your Christian life, can make a great contribution to the evangelisation
of today’s world and to the construction of a more just and
more fraternal society. And so I say with the Apostle Paul: “Consider
your calling” (1 Cor 1:26).
2. With affection, in the name of the Lord, I greet all of you,
sons and daughters of this local Church, beginning with your Bishop,
the Most Reverend Eduard Kojnok, whom I thank for the cordial words
of welcome extended to me, together with his Coadjutor, Bishop Vladimír
Filo. I am pleased to see the Bishops present and the pilgrims who
have come from other Dioceses. I greet the civil and military authorities,
especially the President of the Slovak Republic. I thank all of
you for the welcome offered to me and for the many efforts dedicated
to the preparation of my visit.
in Hungarian
I wish to address a special word to the Hungarian-speaking community
so numerous in this region and an integrated part of this Diocese.
Proud of your traditions, dear Brothers and Sisters, and faithful
to the teachings of your Ancestors, you keep your faith firm and
your hope alive and you draw strength from your attachment to Christ
and to his Church. Your presence constantly enriches Slovakia, and
I know that the Pastors of this local Church are attentive to meet
your spiritual aspirations, while always safeguarding ecclesial
unity, a factor of human and spiritual growth for the entire Slovak
society.
In Slovak:
3. Dear Brothers and Sisters, my journey from Bratislava and from
Košice, gave me the opportunity to admire vast cultivated areas,
which are a witness to your work and effort. My thoughts go with
great sympathy to all who are dedicated to agriculture and who by
their dedication offer an indispensable contribution to the life
of the Nation. I greet you with affection. In the Gospel parable
which we have just heard proclaimed, Jesus compares himself to the
sower, who sows the seed of his word confidently in the soil of
human hearts.
The fruit does not depend on the seed alone, but also on the diverse
conditions of the soil, that is to say, on each one of us. Let us
listen to the explanation of the parable that Jesus himself has
given. The seed eaten up by the birds calls to mind the intervention
of the Evil One who brings to the heart misunderstanding of God’s
way (cf. Mk 8:33), which is always the way of the Cross.
The seed without roots describes that situation in which the Word
is only externally received, without that deep allegiance to Christ
and personal love for him (cf. Col 2:7), which alone would allow
it to be retained.
The choked seed symbolises the worries of the present life, the
attraction of power, affluence, pride.
4. The word does not bear fruit automatically, even though it is
divine –and therefore all-powerful–; it adapts to the
conditions of the soil, or better, it accepts the response that
the soil gives, which can also be negative. This is a Mystery of
God’s condescension, who goes so far even as to place himself
completely in human hands! Because in reality, the seed fallen on
the different soils is Jesus himself (cf. Jn 12,24).
Reading this parable and the explanation given by Jesus to his disciples
arouses in us a necessary reflection. We, Dear Brothers and Sisters,
are the soil in which the Lord tirelessly plants the seed of his
word and his love. With what attitude do we receive it? How much
fruit do we allow it to bring forth?
5. Saint John Chrysostom, whose memorial we celebrate in today’s
liturgy, writes: “I have with me his word; this is my staff,
my protection… This is my strength and my defence” (cf.
Homilies before Exile, 1-3: PG 52, 428).
The Pope entrusts to all of you today the treasure of this word;
just like a confident sower who plants in the secret of each heart
the “good news” of the Kingdom. Be the good and fruitful
soil which, with the abundance of its produce, comforts the expectations
of the Church and of the world.
“Human efforts are useless when not blessed by God”,
says wisely another one of your proverbs. I invoke therefore upon
you and upon your commitment to the Christian way of life the abundant
blessings of the Most High. Amen! |
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