Susan Stark - Reflections from Pope Francis: An Invitation to Journaling, Prayer, and Action

To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope!

P OPE F RANCIS, H OMILY, S AINT P ETERS S QUARE, T UESDAY, M ARCH 19, 2013

S ince Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglios election as pope on March 13, 2013, the words and actions of Pope Francis have challenged and inspired people throughout the world. His simplicity, gentle spirit, openness, and humility are an inspiration not only to Catholics, but to people everywhere.

The world has embraced Pope Francis as a man of great faith and witness to the Gospel. He invites us to live lives of truth and simplicity, to seek goodness and beauty, and to act with justice and mercy. He challenges us to care for those who experience poverty, disaster, violence, and suffering, and to reach out with compassion to those who are most vulnerable, especially the young and the elderly. Pope Franciss reflections transcend all faith traditions. His words have universal appeal for all people seeking wisdom and hope on their spiritual journeys.

This book invites people into a spiritual reflection process that places the predominant themes of Pope Francis and of sacred scripturesuch as mercy, peace, forgiveness, and hopeinto conversation with their own life experiences and faith journeys. The reflections we have chosen can be used in a variety of ways: as daily or weekly reflections for ones own personal prayer, as prayers or meditations to begin a meeting or small group sharing, as a starting point to explore more deeply the source from which the reflection is taken, or as a focus for quiet time, spiritual reflection, and journaling.

The option of using the reflections as a basis for journaling through writing, sketching, or drawing can help people of all spiritual traditions discover the heart of the matter, as it applies to their own lives. Here is a simple process:

1. Choose a reflection. You may want to start at the beginningthe reflections are organized chronologically from the beginning to the end of Pope Franciss first year as pope. Or, find a reflection whose theme resonates with something you are experiencing in your life right nowa thematic index appears at the back of the book. Or, randomly select a reflection.

2. Read the focusing statement that opens the reflection. Consider how it connects to your life, to your experience, to the world around you.

3. Read the reflection from Pope Francis. What is he saying? How do his words resonate with you? How do they challenge you, give you hope, encourage you to change or to take action in some aspect of your life?

4. Identify the heart of the matterthat which is most important and meaningful to you about what you have read. Let it inspire you to write, sketch, or draw.

5. Conclude your reflection time by prayerfully reading the Scripture passage.

Pope Francis has cast the net wide, speaking to the hearts of men, women, and children everywhere about the things in life that matter most. He reminds us that every person is worthy of our giving, every person reflects something of Gods glory, every person is immensely holy and deserves our love (see Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, Chapter 5, I, 274, November 24, 2013).

There is no doubt that Pope Francis is a great gift to the Catholic Church. But we also believe that he is a gift to all Christians and people of faith. So may all of our hearts be open, as Pope Francis implores, to the love and mercy of God. May our reflection be blessed and fruitful.

JOURNEY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

O ur life is a journey, and when we stop moving, things go wrong. Always journeying, in the presence of the Lord, in the light of the Lord, seeking to live with the blamelessness that God asked of Abraham in His promise.

Homily, Sistine Chapel, Thursday, March 14, 2013

Missa Pro Ecclesia with the Cardinal Electors

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the L ORD .

I SAIAH 2:5

PONDER THE PATIENCE GOD HAS FOR YOU

A h! Brothers and Sisters, Gods face is the face of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about Gods patience, the patience He has with each one of us? That is His mercy. He always has patience, patience with us, He understands us, He waits for us, He does not tire of forgiving us if we are able to return to Him with a contrite heart. Great is Gods mercy, says the Psalm.

Angelus, Saint Peters Square, Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

P ETER 3:9

BE A PERSON OF MERCY

I think we too are people who, on the one hand want to listen to Jesus, but on the other hand, at times, like to find a stick to beat others with, to condemn others. And Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I thinkand I say it with humilitythat this is the Lords most powerful message: mercy.

Homily, Parish of Saint Anna in the Vatican, Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 17, 2013