Together with the pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis reflected on the image of sowing and the seed proposed by the Gospel. And he also expressed concern about “in odium fidei” killings in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Johan Pacheco – Vatican City
On the 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Pope Francis led the Angelus prayer from the Apostolic Palace accompanied by pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square and, reflecting on the Gospel of the day that “speaks to us about the Kingdom of God through the image of the seed” (Mk 4:26-34), presented Jesus’ invitation to reflect “in particular on an important attitude: confident waiting.”
“In sowing,” the Pope reflects: “no matter how good and abundant the seed that the farmer scatters and no matter how well he prepares the land, the plants do not sprout immediately: time and hope are needed! Therefore, it is necessary that after sowing this you know how to wait with confidence,” he said.
And it refers to the work that the land already does during sowing: “but it is invisible, patience is needed and, in the meantime, it is necessary to continue taking care of the farmland, watering it and keeping it clean, even though on the surface it seems that it is not. nothing happens.”
The seeds of the Word of God
“The Kingdom of God is also like this,” the Pope explains: “The Lord deposits in us the seeds of his Word and his grace, good and abundant seeds, and then, without ceasing to accompany us, he waits patiently.”
The Holy Father remembers that the Lord cares with the trust of a father, but waits the necessary time “for the seeds to open, grow and develop until they bear fruit of good works.”
“And this because he wants nothing to be lost in his field, for everything to reach full maturity; “He wants all of us to be able to grow like ears loaded with grain.”
Trust in the Gospel
In this way the Pope insists in his reflection, the Lord “teaches us also to sow the Gospel with confidence.” To then obtain the fruits: “without becoming discouraged and without ceasing to support and help each other, even where, despite our efforts, it seems to us that we do not see immediate results.”
Before praying the Angelus, Pope Francis proposes some questions for meditation: Do I confidently sow the Word of God in the environments in which I live? Am I patient when it comes to waiting, or do I get discouraged because I don’t see results immediately? And do I know how to entrust everything serenely to the Lord, while giving my best to announce the Gospel?
“May the Virgin Mary, who welcomed and made the seed of the Word grow within her, help us to be generous and trusting sowers of the Gospel,” the Pope asked.
Massacres in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
And after the Marian prayer, the Pope expressed his concern about the “painful news of clashes and massacres in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” And he called “for them to do everything possible to stop the violence and safeguard the lives of civilians.”
The Pope indicated “among the victims, many are murdered Christians.” in hate fidei. They are martyrs. His sacrifice is a seed that germinates and bears fruit, and teaches us to bear witness to the Gospel with courage and consistency.”
And he reiterated his call to pray for peace: “We do not stop praying for peace in Ukraine, in the Holy Land, in Sudan, in Myanmar and wherever people suffer from war.”
