It’s Wednesday –
“Those who believe in God should be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.” This declaration of Paul is especially linked to the time of Advent, Benedict XVI said during today’s general audience.
He explained how “through our concrete commitment we could and should discover the truth of these words precisely during this time of Advent: to be rich ourselves too in good works and thus to open the doors of the world for Christ, our only Saviour.”
The audience took place under cover, first in St Peter’s and then in the Audience Hall, to welcome 15,000 pilgrims who participated in the encounter marked by today’s arrival of the Christmas tree in the Vatican.
The pope, greeting people from Calabria in the Basilica and thanked them for the Christmas tree – a gigantic white fir from the Sila Mountains, the highest ever to grace St Peter’s Square at 33m, 95cm.
“I saw it from my window,” said the pope.
The reflection of Benedict XVI was dedicated to the depiction of two of the closest collaborators of St Paul: Timothy and Titus. The two personalities, “considered together”, said the pope, offer “very significant information, the most important being that Paul made use of collaborators in the implementation of his mission. Paul remains the apostle par excellence, but it is clear that he leaned on trusted people who shared his efforts and responsibilities.”
The second aspect highlighted by Benedict XVI was the “availability of the collaborators”. The sources “draw attention to their readiness. They teach us to serve the Gospel with generosity, knowing that this leads to service to the Church itself.” The pope said Timothy was practically an ‘alter ego’ for Paul, as may be inferred from the times he recalls him in his Letters, especially the one to the Philippians.
The son of a Jewish mother and Greek father, he probably “grew up in a family that was not strictly practicing, although it said that he knew the Scriptures”, and he was chosen by Paul in his second voyage when the latter passed through Listra, his birthplace. Recalling moments and missionary trips of Timothy undertaken with Paul himself, Benedict XVI defined him as a “figure that stands out, like a shepherd of great distinction”, recalling that he was the first bishop of Ephesus and that some of his relics are in Italy, in the cathedral of Termoli in Molise.
As for Titus, of Greek birth, that is, pagan, he was led by Paul to Jerusalem in the so-called first council when preaching to non-Jews was accepted. Sent to Corinth to bring peace to its undisciplined community, he secured reconciliation between this community and Paul. He is also remembered as bishop of Crete and as envoy to Dalmatia. It was to Titus that Paul said: “I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works…”
The Pope also met with Ehud Olmert, prime minister of Israel
"In the course of the discussions, attention turned to the matter of peace in the Middle East, and to questions regarding the position of the Catholic community in Israel, also in view of the forthcoming Christmas celebrations."
..and issued his message for World Day of the Sick.
I now turn to you, my dear brothers and sisters suffering from incurable and terminal diseases. I encourage you to contemplate the sufferings of Christ crucified, and, in union with him, to turn to the Father with complete trust that all life, and your lives in particular, are in his hands. Trust that your sufferings, united to those of Christ, will prove fruitful for the needs of the Church and the world. I ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in his love, especially during these trials that you are experiencing. It is my hope that, wherever you are, you will always find the spiritual encouragement and strength needed to nourish your faith and bring you closer to the Father of Life. Through her priests and pastoral workers, the Church wishes to assist you and stand at your side, helping you in your hour of need, and thus making present Christ’s own loving mercy towards those who suffer.
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