In his Monday homily the pope spoke about those who plot evil against other people, calling them members of the mafia, who act in darkness.
POPE FRANCIS
'But how many times people place confidence in one person or another and then there is an evil plot to destroy him, to ruin him, to humiliate him. It is the little piece of mafia that each one of us has at hand. Plotting evil against those who trust you. 'But, I do not belong to do the mafia.' But this is the mafia, taking advantage of trust. It covers the light. It makes you dark. Every mafia is dark!â?
He encouraged Christians not to postpone good deeds, through jealously or arguing, but to shine the light of faith.
EXCERPTS OF THE PAPAL HOMILY
(From Vatican Radio)
'The light of faith is a gift that each one of us receives from God on the day of our Baptism. He recalled that Baptism was called â??Illuminationâ?? in the first centuries of Christianity, a term that is still used in some of the Eastern Churches today. But just as Jesus warned the crowds not to conceal the light, so if we hide that light we become lukewarm Christians. Never put off doing good until tomorrow, because itâ??s a form of injustice and you canâ??t put â??goodâ?? in the fridge.â?
'Arguments wear us out, so itâ??s better to forgive and to let these things go. We should not envy those who are powerful, successful or violent because God spurns them and calls the righteous to be His friends. To be jealous of power and wealth is another way of hiding the light. Yet the same worms who devour our corpses will eat the bodies of the rich and powerful too. Anyone who conspires against a neighbor and takes advantage of that trust is a 'Mafioso.' The darkness of every mafia puts out the light of faith.â?
'May the Holy Spirit which we received at Baptism help us to avoid these bad habits which hide the light and let us instead nurture the light of friendship and humility, the light of faith and hope, the light of patience and goodness.â?
MB
CTV
-VM
BN
Up:YA
