In the reading from the Prophet Isaiah that we have heard, the Lord makes a promise full of hope, one that concerns us at first hand: “You shall be called priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God… I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them” (61:6.8). Being priests, dear brothers, is a grace, a very great grace, yet it is not primarily a grace for us, but for our people. [1] The fact that the Lord chooses, from among his flock, some who devote themselves exclusively to the care of his flock as fathers and shepherds is a great gift for our people… Kompli aqra »

Kull Ħamis ix-Xirka naqraw din is-silta mill-Vanġelu: hija ħaġa sempliċi. Ġesù, flimkien ma’ ħbiebu, id-dixxipli tiegħu, jinsab waqt ikla, l-ikla tal-Għid; Ġesù li jaħsel riġlejn id-dixxipli tiegħu – ħaġa stramba din li għamel: f’dak iż-żmien ir-riġlejn kienu jaħsluhom l-ilsiera fid-daħla tad-dar. U mbagħad, Ġesù – b’ġest li jmiss ukoll il-qalb – jaħsel riġlejn it-traditur, dak li biegħu. Hekk hu Ġesù, u jgħallimna dan, sempliċiment: fostkom, għandkom taħslu r-riġlejn… Kompli aqra »

Pope Francis formally opened the Synod of Bishops on Sunday with a solemn Mass in St Peter’s Basilica.

Faithful from around the world – including laymen and -women, priests, seminarians, women and men religious, cardinals and bishops – took part in the liturgy, which marked the beginning of a two-year synodal process.

In his homily, Pope Francis took the day’s Gospel reading, recounting Jesus’ encounter with a rich young man, as the starting point for a reflection on synodality: “Celebrating a Synod,” he said, “means walking on the same road, together.”

Following the example of Jesus, he emphasized three verbs that characterize the Synod: encounter, listen, and discern… Kompli aqra »