Entry 0308: Reflections on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
by Pope Benedict XVI
On eight occasions during his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI delivered reflections on the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, on 13 November 2005, 19 November 2006, 18 November 2007, 16 November 2008, 15 November 2009, 14 November 2010, 13 November 2011, and 18 November 2012. Here are the texts of eight brief reflections prior to the recitation of the Angelus that were delivered on these occasions.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
St
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 13 November 2005
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
The Servants of
God Charles de Foucauld, a priest; Maria Pia Mastena, Foundress
of the Institute of the Sisters of the Holy Face; and Maria
Crocifissa Curcio, Foundress of the Congregation of Carmelite
Missionary Sisters of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, were beatified this morning
in St Peter’s Basilica.
They are being
added to the multitude of Blesseds who were held up for the veneration of the
Ecclesial Communities in which they lived during the Pontificate of John Paul
II, in the awareness of what the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council strongly
emphasized, that all baptized persons are called to the perfection of Christian
life: priests, Religious and lay people, each in accordance with his or
her own charism and specific vocation.
In fact, the
Council paid great attention to the role of the lay faithful. It dedicated to
them an entire chapter - the fourth - of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic
Constitution on the Church, defining their vocation and mission, which is
rooted in Baptism and Confirmation and whose purpose is to “seek the Kingdom of
God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will”
(no. 31).
On 18 November
1965 the Fathers approved a specific Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People, Apostolicam
Actuositatem. It stressed first of all that “the fruitfulness of the
apostolate of lay people depends on their living union with Christ” (no. 4),
that is, on a vigorous spirituality nourished by active participation in the
Liturgy and expressed in the style of the Gospel Beatitudes.
For lay people,
moreover, professional competence, a sense of family, a civic sense and the
social virtues are of great importance. Although it is true that they are
called individually to bear their personal witness, particularly precious
wherever the freedom of the Church encounters obstacles, the Council
nonetheless insisted on the importance of the organized apostolate, essential
if an effect is to be made on the general mindset, social conditions and
institutions (see ibid., no. 18).
In this regard,
the Fathers encouraged the numerous associations of lay people and insisted on
their formation in the apostolate. Beloved Pope John Paul II chose to dedicate
the Synod Assembly in 1987 to the topic of the vocation and mission of lay
people, which was followed by the publication of the Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles
Laici.
To conclude, I
would like to recall that last Sunday, in the Cathedral of Vicenza, the mother
of a family was beatified; she was known as “Mamma Rosa” and was a model of
Christian life in the lay state.
Let us entrust
the entire People of God to all those who are now in the heavenly homeland, to
all our Saints, and in the first place to Mary Most Holy and her Husband,
Joseph, so that the awareness of being called to work with commitment and productivity
in the Lord’s vineyard may increase in every baptized person.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
Saint
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 19 November 2006
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
The day after
tomorrow, 21 November, on the occasion of the liturgical Memorial of the
Presentation of Mary, we will be celebrating Pro Orantibus Day,
dedicated to remembering cloistered religious communities. It is an especially
appropriate opportunity to thank the Lord for the gift of the numerous people
in monasteries and hermitages who are totally dedicated to God in prayer,
silence and concealment.
Some may wonder
what meaning and value their presence could have in our time, when there are so
many situations of poverty and neediness with which to cope.
Why “enclose
oneself” for ever between the walls of a monastery and thereby deprive others
of the contribution of one’s own skills and experience? How effective can the
prayer of these cloistered Religious be for the solution of all the practical
problems that continue to afflict humanity? Yet even today, often to the surprise of their
friends and acquaintances, many people in fact frequently give up promising
professional careers to embrace the austere rule of a cloistered monastery.
What impels them to take such a demanding step other than the realization, as
the Gospel teaches, that the Kingdom of heaven is “a treasure” for which it is
truly worth giving up everything (see Mt 13: 44)?
Indeed, these
brothers and sisters of ours bear a silent witness to the fact that in the midst
of the sometimes frenetic pace of daily events, the one support that never
topples is God, the indestructible rock of faithfulness and love. “Everything
passes, God never changes”, the great spiritual master Teresa of Avila wrote in
one of her famous texts.
And in the face
of the widespread need to get away from the daily routine of sprawling urban
areas in search of places conducive to silence and meditation, monasteries of
contemplative life offer themselves as “oases” in which human beings, pilgrims
on earth, can draw more easily from the wellsprings of the Spirit and quench
their thirst along the way.
Thus, these
apparently useless places are on the contrary indispensable, like the green “lungs”
of a city: they do everyone good, even those who do not visit them and
may not even know of their existence.
Dear brothers
and sisters, let us thank the Lord, who in his Providence has desired male and female
cloistered communities. May they have our spiritual and also our material
support, so that they can carry out their mission to keep alive in the Church
the ardent expectation of Christ’s Second Coming.
For this, let us
invoke the intercession of Mary, whom we contemplate on the Memorial of her
Presentation in the Temple
as Mother and model of the Church, who welcomes in herself both
vocations: to virginity and to marriage, to contemplative life and to
active life.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
St
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 18 November 2007
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
In today’s
Gospel passage, St Luke reproposes the Biblical view of history for our
reflection and refers to Jesus’ words that invite the disciples not to fear,
but to face difficulties, misunderstandings and even persecutions with trust,
persevering through faith in him. The Lord says: “When you hear of wars and
tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will
not be at once” (Lk 21: 9). Keeping this admonition in mind, from the beginning
the Church lives in prayerful waiting for her Lord, scrutinizing the signs of
the times and putting the faithful on guard against recurring messiahs, who
from time to time announce the world’s end as imminent. In reality, history
must run its course, which brings with it also human dramas and natural
calamities. In it a design of salvation is developed that Christ has already
brought to fulfilment in his Incarnation, death and Resurrection. The Church
continues to proclaim this mystery and to announce and accomplish it with her
preaching, celebration of the sacraments and witness of charity.
Dear brothers
and sisters, let us welcome Christ’s invitation to face daily events by
trusting in his providential love. Let us not fear the future, even when it can
appear with bleak colours, because the God of Jesus Christ, who entered history
to open it to its transcendent fulfilment, is the alpha and the omega, the
first and the last (see Rv 1: 8). He guarantees that in every little but
genuine act of love there is the entire sense of the universe, and that the one
who does not hesitate to lose his own life for him finds it again in fullness (see
Mt 16: 25).
With remarkable
effectiveness, consecrated persons, who have placed their lives completely at
the service of the Kingdom
of God Temple
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We owe much to these people who live on what Providence provides them
through the generosity of the faithful. “As a spiritual oasis, a monastery
reminds today’s world of the most important, and indeed, in the end, the only
decisive thing: that there is an ultimate reason why life is worth living: God
and his unfathomable love” (Pope Benedict XVI, Heiligenkreuz , Austria
May Mary, Mother
of the Incarnate Word, accompany us on our earthly pilgrimage. We ask her to
sustain the witness of all Christians, so that it is always based on a solid
and persevering faith.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
St
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 16 November 2008
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
The Word of God
this Sunday the second to the last Sunday of the liturgical year invites us to
be vigilant and hardworking, in the expectation of the Lord’s return at the end
of time. The Gospel passage recounts the famous Parable of the Talents, related
by St Matthew (25: 14-30). The “talent” was an ancient Roman coin, of great
value, and precisely because of this parable’s popularity it became synonymous
with personal gifts, which everyone is called to develop. In fact, the text
speaks of “a man going on a journey [who] called his servants and entrusted to
them his property” (Mt 25: 14). The man in the parable represents Christ
himself, the servants are the disciples and the talents are the gifts that
Jesus entrusts to them. These gifts, in addition to their natural qualities,
thus represent the riches that the Lord Jesus has bequeathed to us as a legacy,
so that we may make them productive: his Word, deposited in the Holy Gospel;
Baptism, which renews us in the Holy Spirit; prayer the “Our Father” that we
raise to God as his children, united in the Son; his forgiveness, which he
commanded be offered to all; the Sacrament of his Body sacrificed and his Blood
poured out; in a word: the Kingdom of God, which is God himself, present and
alive in our midst.
This is the
treasure that Jesus entrusted to his friends at the end of his brief life on
earth. Today’s parable stresses the inner disposition necessary to accept and
develop this gift. Fear is the wrong attitude: the servant who is afraid of his
master and fears his return hides the coin in the earth and it does not produce
any fruit. This happens, for example, to those who after receiving Baptism,
Communion and Confirmation subsequently bury these gifts beneath a blanket of
prejudice, beneath a false image of God that paralyzes faith and good works,
thus betraying the Lord’s expectations. However, the parable places a greater
emphasis on the good fruits brought by the disciples who, happy with the gift
they received, did not keep it hidden with fear and jealousy but made it
profitable by sharing it and partaking in it. Yes, what Christ has given us is
multiplied in its giving! It is a treasure made to be spent, invested and
shared with all, as we are taught by the Apostle Paul, that great administrator
of Jesus’ talents. The Gospel teaching that the liturgy offers us today has
also had a strong effect at the historical and social level, encouraging an
active and entrepreneurial spirit in the Christian people.
The central
message, however, concerns the spirit of responsibility with which to receive
God’s Kingdom: a responsibility to God and to humanity. This attitude of the
heart is embodied perfectly in the Virgin Mary who, on receiving the most
precious gift of all, Jesus himself, offered him to the world with immense
love. Let us ask her to help us to be “good and faithful servants” so that we
may one day enter “into the joy of our Lord”.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
Saint
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 15 November 2009
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
We have reached
the last two weeks of the liturgical year. Let us thank the Lord who has once
again granted us to make this journey of faith old and ever new in the great
spiritual family of the Church! It is a precious gift, which enables us to live
the mystery of Christ in history, receiving in the furrows of our personal and
community existence the seed of the word of God, a seed of eternity that
transforms this world from within and opens it to the Kingdom of Heaven Readings
by St Mark’s Gospel, which today presents to us part of Jesus’ discourse on the
end of times. In this discourse is a phrase whose terse clarity is striking: “Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mk 13: 31). Let us
pause a moment to reflect on this prophecy of Christ.
The expression “Heaven
and earth” recurs frequently in the Bible in reference to the whole universe,
the entire cosmos. Jesus declares that all this is destined to “pass away”; not
only the earth but also Heaven, which here is meant in a purely cosmic sense
and not as synonymous with God. Sacred Scripture knows no ambiguity: all
Creation is marked by finitude, including the elements divinized by ancient
mythologies; there is no confusion between Creation and the Creator but rather
a decided difference. With this clear distinction Jesus says that his words “will
not pass away”, that is to say they are part of God and therefore eternal. Even
if they were spoken in the concreteness of his earthly existence, they are
prophetic words par excellence, as Jesus affirms elsewhere, addressing the
heavenly Father: “I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have
received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed
that you sent me” (Jn 17: 8). In a well-known parable Christ compares himself
to the sower and explains that the seed is the word (see Mk 4: 14); those who
hear it, accept it and bear fruit (see Mk 4: 20) take part in the Kingdom of God
Dear friends,
the Virgin Mary is the living sign of this truth. Her heart was “good soil”
that received with complete willingness the Word of God, so that her whole
life, transformed according to the image of the Son, was introduced into
eternity, body and soul, in anticipation of the eternal vocation of every human
being. Let us now make our own in prayer her response to the Angel: “Let it be
to me according to your word” (Lk 1: 38), so that in following Christ on the
way of the Cross we too may be able to attain the glory of the Resurrection.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
St
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 14 November 2010
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
In the Second
Reading of today’s Liturgy, the Apostle Paul underlines the importance of work
for the life of man. We are reminded of this idea on “Thanksgiving Day”, that
is traditionally celebrated in Italy
on this second Sunday in November, as the offering of thanks to God at the end
of the harvest season. Although in other geographical areas farming periods
naturally differ, today I would like to draw inspiration from St Paul ’s words to reflect on agricultural
work in particular.
The full gravity
of the current economic crisis, discussed these past few days at the “G20
Summit”, should be understood. This crisis has numerous causes and is a strong
reminder of the need for a profound revision of the model of global economic
development (see Encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, no. 21).
It is an acute
symptom which has been added to a long list of many far more serious and
well-known problems, such as the lasting imbalance between wealth and poverty,
the scandal of world hunger, the ecological emergency and the now widespread
problem of unemployment.
In this context,
a strategic revitalization of agriculture is crucial. Indeed, the process of
industrialization has often overshadowed the agricultural sector, which
although benefiting in its turn from modern technology has nevertheless lost
importance with notable consequences, even at the cultural level. It seems to
me that it is time to re-evaluate agriculture, not in a nostalgic sense but as
an indispensable resource for the future.
In the present
economic situation, the dynamic economies are tempted to pursue advantageous
alliances, which nevertheless may have detrimental results for other poorer
States, situations of extreme poverty among the masses and the depletion of the
natural resources of the earth that God has entrusted to man, as it says in
Genesis, so that he may till it and keep it (see 2: 15). And in spite of the
crisis it can still be seen that in the old industrialized countries,
lifestyles marked by unsustainable consumerism are encouraged. These also prove
damaging for the environment and for the poor. Then a really concerted aim for
a new balance between farming, industry and services is necessary so that
development may be sustainable, so that no one will lack bread and work, air
and water, and that the other fundamental resources may be preserved as
universal rights (see Encyclical Caritas in Veritate, no. 27). Thus it
is essential to cultivate and spread a clear ethical awareness that is equal to
facing the most complicated challenges of our time. Everyone should be taught
to consume in a wiser and more responsible way. We should promote personal
responsibility along with a social dimension of rural activities based on the
undying values of hospitality, solidarity and sharing the toil of labour. Many
young people have already chosen this path and many professionals are also
returning to agricultural enterprises, feeling that in this way they are not
only responding to personal and family needs but also to a sign of the
times, to a concrete sensibility for the common good.
Let us pray to
the Virgin Mary that these reflections may serve as an incentive to the
international community, as we thank God for the fruits of the earth and the
work of mankind.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
St.
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 13 November 2011
Dear
Brothers and Sisters,
The
word of God of this Sunday — the second to last Sunday of the liturgical year —
warns us of the transience of our earthly existence and invites us to live it
as a pilgrimage, keeping our gaze fixed on the destination for which God has
created us. Moreover, since he made us for himself (see St Augustine , Confessions 1, 1), he is
our ultimate destination and the meaning of our existence.
Death,
followed by the Last Judgement, is an obligatory stage to pass through in order
to reach this definitive reality. The Apostle Paul says: “the day of the Lord
will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thess 5:2), that is, without warning.
May knowledge of the glorious return of the Lord Jesus spur us to live in an
attitude of watchfulness, waiting for his manifestation and in constant
remembrance of his first Coming.
In
the well known Parable of the Talents — recounted by the Evangelist Matthew (see
25: 14-30) — Jesus tells the story of three servants to whom their master
entrusted his property, before setting out on a long journey. Two of them
behaved impeccably, doubling the value of what they had received. On the
contrary, the third buried the money he had received in a hole. On his return,
the master asked his servants to account for what he had entrusted to them and
while he was pleased with the first two he was disappointed with the third.
Indeed,
the servant who had hidden his talent and failed to make it increase in worth,
had calculated badly. He behaved as if his master were never to return, as if
there would never be a day on which he would be asked to account for his
actions. With this parable Jesus wanted to teach his disciples to make good use
of his gifts: God calls every person and offers talents to all, at the same
time entrusting each one with a mission to carry out. It would be foolish to
presume that these gifts are an entitlement, just as failing to use them would
mean failing to achieve our purpose in life.
In
commenting on this Gospel passage St Gregory the Great noted that the Lord does
not let anyone lack the gift of his charity, of his love. He wrote: “brothers,
it is necessary that you pay the utmost attention to preserving love in
everything you must do” (Homilies on the Gospel, 9, 6). After explaining
that true charity consists in loving enemies as well as friends, he added: “if
someone lacks this virtue, he loses every good he possesses, he is deprived of
the talent he received and is cast out into the darkness” (ibid.).
Dear
brothers and sisters, let us accept the invitation to be watchful, of which the
Scriptures frequently remind us! This is the attitude of those who know that
the Lord will return and that he will wish to see the fruits of his love in us.
Charity is the fundamental good that no one can fail to bring to fruition and
without which every other good is worthless (see 1 Cor 13:3). If Jesus loved us
to the point of giving his life for us (see 1 Jn 3:16), how can we not love God
with the whole of ourselves and love one another with real warmth? (see 1 Jn
4:11). It is only by practising charity that we too will be able to share in
the joy of Our Lord. May the Virgin Mary teach us active and joyful
watchfulness on our journey towards the encounter with God.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
Saint
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 18 November 2012
Dear
Brothers and Sisters,
St
Mark’s version of a part of Jesus’ discourse on the end times is proclaimed on
this penultimate Sunday of the liturgical year (see Mk 13:24-32). This discourse
is also found in Matthew and Luke, with some variations, and is probably the
most difficult Gospel text. This difficulty stems from both its content and its
language: in fact, it speaks of a future that exceeds our own categories and
for this reason Jesus uses images and words taken from the Old Testament; but
above all he introduces a new centre, which is he himself, the mystery of his
Person and of his death and Resurrection.
Today’s
passage also opens with certain cosmic images that are apocalyptic in
character: “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and
the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be
shaken” (vv. 24-25); but this element is relativized by what follows: “then
they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory” (v.
26). The “Son of man” is Jesus himself who links the present and the future;
the ancient words of the prophets have finally found a centre in the Person of
the Nazarene Messiah: he is the True Event which remains the firm and enduring
point in the midst of the world’s upheavals.
Other
words in today’s Gospel confirm this. Jesus says: “heaven and earth will pass
away, but my words will not pass away” (v. 31) Indeed we know that in the Bible
the word of God is at the origin of the Creation: all the creatures, starting
with the cosmic elements — sun, moon, the firmament — obey the word of God,
they exist since they have been “called into being” by it. This creative force
of the divine word is concentrated in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, and
also passes through his human words, which are the true “firmament” that
directs the thought and journey of man on earth.
For
this reason Jesus does not describe the end of the world and when he uses apocalyptic
images, he does not act as a “seer”. On the contrary, he wishes to prevent his
disciples in every epoch from being curious about dates and predictions; he
wants instead to provide them with a key to a profound, essential
interpretation and, above all, to point out to them the right way on which to
walk, today and in the future, to enter eternal life.
Everything
passes away, the Lord reminds us, but the word of God does not change and
before it each one of us is responsible for his or her own behaviour. We are
judged on this basis.
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