Man does not save himself alone

Man does not save himself alone, and those who have had the pride to try, even among Christians, have failed. For God alone can give life and salvation. Such is the meditation, in the perspective of Advent, that Pope Francis proposed during the Mass celebrated this morning, Thursday 19 December, in the chapel of the house of Saint Martha.

Starting, as is his custom, from the day's liturgy, the Pope wished to recall that « life, the capacity to give life and salvation come only from the Lord » and not from man, who does not have « the humility » to acknowledge it and to ask for help. « Many times » in Scripture, there is mention « of the barren woman, of barrenness, of the incapacity to conceive and to give life ». But there are also many times when « the miracle of the Lord » takes place, « who makes it possible for these barren women to have a child ».

Pope Francis observed that in the words of the « prophets, there is the image of the desert: the deserted land, incapable of making a tree or a fruit grow, of making anything sprout ». Yet, precisely « the desert will be like a forest. The prophets say: it will be great, it will flourish! ». Thus « the desert can flourish » and « the barren woman can have life » only in the perspective of the « promise of the Lord: I can! I can, out of your dryness, make life and salvation grow! I can, out of the aridity, make the fruits grow! ». Salvation « is the intervention of God who makes us fruitful, who gives us the capacity to give life », who « helps us on the way of holiness ».

Hence the Pope's question: « But for our part, what must we do? ». Above all, the Pope answered, « recognise our dryness, our incapacity to give life ». Then, « ask ». And he formulated thus the request that becomes prayer: « Lord, I want to be fruitful; I want my life to give life, my faith to be fruitful and to grow, so that I may give it to others. Lord, I am barren; I cannot, you can. I am a desert; I cannot, you can ». And « may this – such was his wish – be the prayer of these days before Christmas ».

It gives cause for reflection, the Pope continued, « that the proud, those who believe they can do everything all by themselves, are struck down ». And he referred in particular « to the woman who was not barren, but who was proud and who did not understand what it meant to praise God: Michal, the daughter of Saul. She was punished with barrenness ». Humility is a gift necessary in order to be fruitful. « How many people – the Pope observed – believe themselves to be righteous, like her, and in the end are wretched! ».

Thus, the Pope concluded, « with this humility, humility of the desert, humility of the barren soul » we must « receive the grace: the grace to flourish, to bear fruit and to give life ».

Source:news.va