God is not interested in the great accomplishments of the rich and powerful, but in the loving fidelity of day-to-day.
According to Vatican Radio, the Holy Father said this at his daily morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, as he recalled how Jesus has taught us this.
“Jesus never spoke of great things,” but about “little things,” the Pope said.
Christ, Francis explained, shows us this through the “the two pillars of the Gospel” found in Matthew: the Beatitudes and Chapter 25, the Final Judgment, where He says: ‘Come, come with me because you have done these things, simple things.’
Highlighting Christ’s appreciation for the simple, Francis said, how Jesus was glad that the faithful did not seek salvation or your hope in power, in political parties, or in negotiations.
“No! You have simply done these things,” Francis said, lamenting how “so many people look down on this!”
“God’s salvation does not come from great things, from power or wealth, nor from clerical or political parties, but from the small and simple things of God.”
The Pope noted how the people of Jesus’ time did not have confidence in these simple little things. He said they believed Jesus as he spoke ‘with authority,’ but had ‘contempt’ for him.
“Why this contempt?” Francis asked.
“Because in our imagination, salvation should come from something great, something majestic; only the powerful, those who have strength or money or power, can save us. These people can save us. And the plan of God is different!
“They felt contempt because they could not understand that salvation only comes from the small things, the simplicity of the things of God.”
As a preparation for Easter, the Pope invited those present to read the Beatitudes and Matthew 25, and to think and to see if there is something that they ‘look down on’ or ‘disturbs my peace.’
Francis said, ‘I’ll do it, too.’
Pope Francis concluded, calling on them to not ignore his homework, noting, “It would do us good to take some time – today, tomorrow – to read the Beatitudes, to read Matthew 25, and to pay attention to what happens in our heart: if there is some feeling of contempt,” and then seek grace to challenge these sentiments.
