Thursday 23 May 2013

Killing in the Name of God is Blasphemy

Comments from this morning's mass at St. Martha House...

“Doing good” is a principle that unites all humanity beyond the diversity of ideologies and religions…The root of this possibility of doing good – that we all have – is in creation. “Even the disciples were a little intolerant, closed off by the idea of ​​possessing the truth, convinced that “those who do not have the truth, cannot do good … This was wrong . . .  Jesus broadens the horizon.”
 
Pope Francis said this in this morning’s mass in St. Martha House’s chapel, in the presence of some Governorate staff. The Pope co-celebrated mass with the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch, Cardinal Bechara Boutros Rai, the leader of Lebanese Christians. Although Lebanon finds itself in the midst of tensions as a result of the Syrian crisis, it is still founded on the peaceful co-existence between religions.
 
The Gospel passage Francis chose for today’s Audience speaks about the disciples who prevented a person from outside their group from doing good and how Jesus corrected them.
 
“They complain,” the Pope said in his homily, because they say, “If he is not one of us, he cannot do good. If he is not of our party, he cannot do good.” And Jesus corrects them: “Do not hinder him, he says, let him do good.” “To say that you can kill in the name of God is blasphemy,” Francis stressed.

No comments: