By Vatican News staff writer
Adressing "all Muslim brothers
and sisters", the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue's Message
for the month of Ramadam and ‘Id al-Fitr begins by passing on "fraternal
good wishes for a month rich in divine blessings and spiritual
advancement". The Message notes that "fasting, along with prayer,
almsgiving and other pious practices, brings us closer to God our Creator and
to all those with whom we live and work, and helps us to continue walking
together on the path of fraternity".
Comforting gestures
Noting that over the last few months
"of suffering, anguish and sorrow", especially during the lockdown
periods, "we sensed our need for divine assistance, but also for expressions
and gestures of fraternal solidarity". There are so many small gestures,
continues the Message: a telephone call, a message of support and comfort, a
prayer, help in buying medicines or food, advice to simply "show the
security of knowing that someone is always there for us in times of
necessity".
This need for divine assistance that
we need and seek "is manifold", continues the Message: God’s mercy,
pardon, providence and other spiritual and material gifts. "Yet, what we
need most in these times, is hope".
Hope
The Message then turns its attention
to the importance of "hope". "As we are aware", it reads,
"while certainly including optimism", hope goes beyond it. The
Message explains that "while optimism is a human attitude, hope has its
basis in something religious: God loves us, and therefore cares for us through
his providence".
"Hope arises from our belief
that all our problems and trials have a meaning, a value and a purpose, however
difficult or impossible it may be for us to understand the reason for them or
to find a way out of them.
"Hope also carries with it
belief in the goodness present in the heart of every person. Many times, in
situations of difficulty and despair, help, and the hope it brings, can come
from those whom we least expect".
Fraternity, a source of hope
The Message then notes that
"human fraternity, in its numerous manifestations, thus becomes a source
of hope for all, especially for those in any kind of need.
It continues with a word of
gratitude. "Thank you to all those who so prompty reacted by showing the
utmost signs of solidairty in times of crises. All these persons and their
goodness remind us believers that the spirit of fraternity is universal, and
that it transcends all boundaries: ethnic, religious, social and
economic", reads the Message. "In adopting this spirit, we imitate
God, who looks benevolently upon the humanity he created, upon all other
creatures and upon the entire universe. This is why the growing care and
concern for the planet, our 'common home', is, according to Pope Francis, yet
another sign of hope.
Fighting enemies of hope
"We are also aware that hope has
its enemies," warns the Message. "Lack of faith in God’s love and
care; loss of trust in our brothers and sisters; pessimism; despair and its
opposite, unfounded presumption; unfair generalizations based on one’s own
negative experiences, and so forth", are all enemies to faith it says.
"These harmful thoughts, attitudes and reactions must be effectively
countered, so as to strengthen hope in God and trust in all our brothers and
sisters".
Pope's invitation to renewed hope
Bringing the Message to an end, the
Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue notes that in his most recent
encyclical, Fratelli tutti, "Pope Francis speaks
frequently of hope". In it, he says, “I invite everyone to renewed hope,
‘for hope speaks to us of something deeply rooted in every human heart,
independently of our circumstances and historical conditioning. Hope speaks to
us of a thirst, an aspiration, a longing for a life of fulfilment, a desire to
achieve great things, things that fill our heart and lift our spirit to lofty
realities like truth, goodness and beauty, justice and love… and it can open us
up to grand ideals that make life more beautiful and worthwhile’. Let us
continue, then, to advance along the paths of hope”.
Finally, the Message reads that
"we, Christians and Muslims, are called to be bearers of hope, for the
present life and for the life to come, and to be witnesses, restorers and
builders of this hope, especially for those experiencing difficulties and
despair". And in a sign of spiritual solidarity, it says, "we assure
you of our prayer, and we send best wishes for a peaceful and fruitful
Ramadan, and for a joyful ‘Id al-Fitr."
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento