Pope Francis Celebrates Mass on Sunday of the Word of God
During the Sunday of the Word of God, Pope Francis presided over Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and emphasized the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to bring Christ into our lives and society through regular reading of the Bible.
By Devin Watkins
“The Gospel is a word of joy, summoning us to mutual acceptance and fellowship, as we make our pilgrim journey towards the Kingdom of God.” Pope Francis shared this message during the Mass on the 6th Sunday of the Word of God, coinciding with the Vatican’s Jubilee for the World of Communication.
This year’s theme for Word of God Sunday is “I Hope in Your Word,” and during the Mass, Pope Francis appointed 40 lay people as Lectors, hailing from countries like Albania, Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, the Philippines, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Poland, and Slovenia.
In his homily, the Pope reflected on the Gospel passage from Luke, where Jesus reads the Scriptures at the synagogue in Nazareth. He highlighted Jesus as the living Word in whom all Scriptures find fulfillment, urging us to listen to Him with open hearts and minds.
Pope Francis emphasized the need for the Word of God to bring us amazement and renewal, going beyond just listening and understanding. He encouraged a profound experience of the Word that transforms our hearts.
Gospel Word of Compassion, Mercy, and Light
Reflecting on the mission of Christ, Pope Francis highlighted five actions that characterize His unique and universal mission. Jesus was anointed to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, to provide recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
These actions represent the Gospel’s message of compassion, mercy, light, freedom, and joy, inviting us to practice charity, forgiveness, solidarity, and reconciliation while bearing witness to our faith.
Joy and Freedom in God’s Word
Pope Francis emphasized the Gospel as a word of joy that calls us to mutual acceptance and fellowship as we journey towards the Kingdom of God. He reminded Christians of their mission to evangelize at all times, bringing the good news to the poor, releasing captives, restoring sight to the blind, freeing the oppressed, and proclaiming the Lord’s favor.
Despite the challenges of wars, injustice, pain, and suffering in the world, the Pope assured that the Gospel is a living and certain word that never disappoints. He encouraged Christians to be witnesses of Christ’s salvation and to spread His message of hope and joy to all corners of the earth.
Let us commit ourselves to reading and living out the Word of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in bringing Christ’s presence into our lives and society.
