Pope warned about the scandal that Christians can make the Church a house of business, and salvation is free
The newsroom, with Vatican Radio
Pope celebrates Mass in the Casa Santa Marta/ Photo: L’Osservatore Romano
May the churches never become houses for business, for the redemption of Jesus is always free. This was the request of Pope Francisco at Mass this Friday, November 21, at the Casa Santa Marta, the day the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple.
The liturgy of the day proposes the Gospel in which Jesus expels the merchants from the temple, because we turned the house of prayer into a den of thieves. For the Pope this was a gesture of purification, he explained, because the Temple as well as the people of God were profaned by sin of scandal.
The Pope recalled the biblical story of Hannah, humble woman, mother of Samuel, who goes to the temple to ask for the grace of a child. She whispered their prayers in silence as the priest and his two corrupt sons exploited the pilgrims, and offended people.
“I think the scandal that the people can happen with our attitude, not with our priestly habits in the Temple: the scandal of the trade, the scandal of worldliness. How often we find that entering a church, even today, there is a list of prices for baptism, blessing, the Mass for the intentions. And people are offended. ”
Francis gave as an example an episode he witnessed when he was a priest: A newlywed couple wanted to get married, but wanted to do this with Mass. The parish clerk said that would not be possible, because it could not exceed 20 minutes and there were other shifts. So they could marry the celebration of Holy Mass, they would have pay to pay for two shifts. This is the sin of scandal and to these people, Jesus says, it is better to be thrown overboard.
“When those who are in the temple – are priests, lay people, secretaries, but they have to manage pastoral Temple – become business people, the people are offended. And we are responsible for it. Even laymen. All. Because if I this in my parish if it does, I must have the courage to speak about it it in front of the pastor. And the people suffer that scandal. ”
The Holy Father spoke of a curious fact: the ability that people have to forgive their priests when they have a weakness, slip into sin. But there are two things that God’s people do not know how to forgive: one a priest attracted to money and a priest who mistreats the people. A scandal when the Temple, the House of God, it becomes a house of business as those seeking marriage needing to rent the church.
“Redemption is free, it brings us the total gratuity of God’s love. And when the church or churches become negotiators, it is said that … Well, salvation is not that free. That’s why Jesus takes the whip in his hand to make this rite of purification in the Temple. Today the liturgy celebrates the presentation of Our Lady in the Temple when still small. That a mere woman like Ana teaches us all to be pastors, to all those who have pastoral responsibility, to keep the Temple clean, to receive those that come with love, as if each were Our Lady.”