VULNERABILITY- DON'T HIDE IT

Pope at Santa Marta: There is no need to hide one's vulnerability

2017-06-16

In his morning homily at Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis centered his message on vulnerability. Using the example of St. Paul, he said that "we are all fragile and need to be healed,” thus there is no need to hide it. 

POPE FRANCIS

"One of the most difficult things in life is to recognize vulnerability. At times, we search to find ways to cover vulnerability so it isn't seen; to disguise it because then it is not seen; or to conceal it. The same St. Paul, at the start of this chapter says, 'When I fell in shameful disguises...' Disguises are shameful, always. They are hypocritical.”

He concluded by saying that when one recognizes this weakness, God will "give fullness, salvation, happiness and joy to be saved.”

SUMMARY OF POPE'S HOMILY IN ENGLISH

Source: Vatican Radio

"In order to be saved and healed by God we must recognize that we are weak, vulnerable and sinful- like earthen vessels. This will lead us to happiness.”

 

"All of us are vulnerable, fragile, weak, and we need to be healed. But recognizing our vulnerability is one of life's most difficult tasks.  At times, we try to cover this vulnerability with cosmetics in order to disguise it, pretending it does not exist.  And disguises are always shameful. They are hypocrisy.”

 

"Besides being hypocritical towards others, we are also hypocritical within ourselves believing to be something else, hence not needing healing and support.  This is the path to vanity, pride and self-reference of those who do not feel themselves made of clay and thus seek salvation and fulfillment in themselves.”

"Instead, as St. Paul says, it is the power of God that saves us because of our vulnerability. Hence we are troubled but not crushed; we are shaken but not desperate; we are persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not killed.”

"There is always this relationship between clay and power, clay and treasure. But the temptation, the pope said,  is always the same: to cover, conceal and not believing we are made of clay.  This is the hypocrisy towards ourselves.”

"When we accept our weakness, God comes with His salvation and happiness. We must accept our weakness and vulnerability, even if it is difficult to do so.  Hence the importance of shame.”

"It is shame that broadens the heart to allow the power of God in - the shame of being clay and not a silver or gold vase.”   

When Peter objected to Jesus washing his feet, he did not realize he was made of clay needing the Lord’s power to be saved.  It’s only when we accept we are made of clay that the extraordinary power of God will come and give us the fulfillment, salvation, happiness and joy of being saved, thus receiving the Lord's treasure.”