miniZibaldone

Saint Dominic had a dilemma at the beginning of his life, which marked his whole existence: “How can I study with dead skin, when Christ’s flesh suffers.” ...  In the encounter with the living flesh of Christ we are evangelized and recover the passion to be preachers and witnesses of His love; and we free ourselves of the  dangerous temptation, so present today, of Gnosticism. From the message God stimulated Saint Dominic to found an “Order of Preachers,” preaching being the mission that Jesus entrusted to the Apostles. It is the Word of God, which burns  within and spurs to go out to proclaim Jesus Christ to all peoples (cf. Matthew 28:19-20). The Founding Father said: “First contemplate and then teach.” Evangelized  by God, to evangelize. Without strong personal union with Him, the preaching might be very perfect, very reasoned, even admirable, but it will not touch the heart,  which is what must change. So essential is the serious and assiduous study of...

All our expressions of love, of solidarity, of sharing are but a reflection of that love which is God.   From an address God does not  simply have the desire or capacity to love; God is love: charity is his essence, it is his nature.  He is unique, but not solitary; he cannot be alone, he cannot be closed in on himself because he is communion, he is charity; and charity by its nature is communicated and shared.  In this way, God associates man to his life of love, and even if man turns away from him, God does not remain distant but goes out to meet him.  This going out to meet us, culminating in the Incarnation of his Son, is his mercy.   [full text]

From the homily [W]e need to discern if we follow the spirit of God.  And this is the daily rule of life that John teaches us."  Pope Francis went on to warn against worldliness. [...] "The criterion is the Incarnation. I can feel so many things inside, even good things, good ideas. But if these good ideas, these feelings, do not lead to God who became flesh, do not lead me to my neighbour, my brother, then they are not from God. For this reason, John begins this passage of his letter by saying: 'This is God's commandment that we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.'" [...] We can, the Pope continued, have "many pastoral plans", imagine new "methods to get closer to the people", but "if we do not follow the path of God who became flesh, the path of the Son of God who became man to walk with us, we are not on the path of the good spirit: it is the Antichrist, it is worldliness, it is the spirit ...

From the angelus Instead we are called to throw open the door of our heart to the Word of God, to Jesus, in order thus to become His children. This solemn beginning of the Gospel was already proclaimed on: Christmas today; today it is proposed to us once more. It is the invitation of Holy Mother Church to welcome this Word of salvation, this mystery of light. If we welcome Him, if we welcome Jesus, we will grow in understanding and in the love of the Lord, we will learn to be merciful as He is. Especially in this Holy Year of Mercy, let us make sure that the Gospel becomes ever more incarnate in our own lives too. [full text]