what does pope francis want? · pope francis – pastoral initiatives ... my covenant with you. ......

To what is the Church calling us? What does Pope Francis want?

© Bill Huebsch, 2017

Our Plan Today

In continuity with our history

Pope Francis – pastoral initiatives

Accompaniment In the life of Jesus

In the teaching of Pope Francis

2 types of accompaniment

How this changes your daily life

The method for accompanying others

Church history

JC Today

The

Founding

Period

325 1517

The

Creed

Under Constantine

The Reformation

Carolingian reforms

Lateran Councils

Conscience

Jesus:

Encounter

People of mercy

Forming their

consciences

Christians

accompanying

each other

Baptism with no formation

Less personal faith

More “membership”

Rapid growth in ever-larger parishes

Obedience to law

Minimum “obligations” – threat of Hell

Trent

1917 Code of Law

Mid-century biblical

& liturgical renewal

Vatican II

Church history

JC Today

The

Founding

Period

325 1517

The

Creed

Under Constantine

The Reformation

Carolingian reforms

Lateran Councils

Conscience

Jesus:

Encounter

People of mercy

Forming their

consciences

Christians

accompanying

each other

Baptism with no formation

Less personal faith

More “membership”

Rapid growth in ever-larger parishes

Obedience to law

Minimum “obligations” – threat of Hell

Trent

1917 Code of Law

Mid-century biblical

& liturgical renewal

Vatican II

By 1546, no reconciliation was possible. Trent sought to set “boundary stones”

and to reform abuses among the clergy.

Trent’s style was to expose & condemn. It had to be.

This continued into Vatican I & up to Vatican II.


Pope Francis’ pastoral ideas…

…are a continuation of Vatican II

which was in continuity with Scripture, the Apostolic Church,

& previous councils & popes

while being open to the development of doctrine Aggiornamento – brought up to date! Ressourcement – from the original sources!


Core documents

Evangelii Gaudium The Joy of the Gospel

Misericordiae Vultus The Face of Mercy

Laudato Si On the Care of our Common Home

Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love


Pastoral Initiatives

Encounter Christ anew

A people & a church of mercy

Discern the voice of God within the conscience

Pastoral strategy : accompaniment

Pope Francis is inviting us to undertake certain


Other initiatives

Enthused missionary discipleship

A poor church for the poor

Care for our common home

The call to the clergy and lay leaders to get enthused, write good homilies

and get out with their sheep





Learn to discern the voice of God within the conscience



I invite all Christians…

…to “a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ” (JoG #3).

No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her,

“no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.”


Turn your heart

The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk;

whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is there already, waiting for us with open arms.


Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us;

we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. (JoG#3)


Kerygma (our core message)

God loves you and seeks you out

God summons you to love

Jesus teaches us that nothing can separate us from his love And this is the really Good News

The Cross

Now in the Spirit, Jesus walks with you every day


Kerygma (our core message)

God loves you and seeks you out

God summons you to love

Jesus teaches us that nothing can separate us from his love And this is the really Good News

The Cross

Now in the Spirit, Jesus walks with you every day

Luke 4: the Spirit of the Lord is upon

me…to announce a year of favor

Romans 10: How are they to believe if the word is not preached

to them?

Matthew 3: John came preaching…


Turn your heart

Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived;

in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you.

I need you. Save me once again, Lord.

Take me once more into your redeeming embrace”.

What is mercy?

It is a posture toward those who struggle or are in need A posture of compassion & aide

We are merciful because God has so much mercy on us

The liturgy

For this reason, in the Mass, we pray for mercy frequently Penitential rite

The Gloria

Often in the Collect

The Preface & Eucharistic prayers

Lamb of God


Mercy

Not a theology

Not found in canon law or the moral code of the Church

Not in the 10 Commandments

Mercy is implanted within us by God

Essential for Accompaniment

Matthew

Jesus called Matthew

Jesus looked on that man with mercy #8 in The Face of Mercy

Pope Francis’ motto: Miserando atque Eligendo I hold nothing against you and I choose you


Pope Francis

The Church’s first duty is not to hand down condemnations or anathemas.

It’s not all about law and rubrics….& Canon Law.

It is to proclaim God’s mercy in Jesus’ name





Discern the voice of God within the conscience



The Church in Modern World #16 Our Catechism #1776

Deep within our conscience we discover a law which we have not laid upon ourselves but which we must obey.

Its voice, ever calling us to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in our hearts at the right moment....

For we have in our heart a law inscribed by God....

Our conscience is our most secret core and our sanctuary. There we are alone with God whose voice echoes in our depths


Conscience

Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) 37: We have found it hard to allow the

consciences of the faithful to guide them.

The key: We in the Church are called to help form

consciences,

not replace them with our rules.


Forming conscience

Avoid either of two extremes


Overly church-law-centered

We form our conscience only to be in accord with church teaching We may never reach any other conclusion

No matter what the circumstances of our lives

Humans in relationship to law

Rigidity – turning people away

We become “remote controlled” by the church (Pope Francis’ term)


Overly self-centered

Where we try to justify any decision

“Anything goes…”

Without adequate prayer and discernment

Without regard for church law, custom, and practice

Lax – people lose their bearing

Not within our tradition as Catholics


Balanced Christ-centered

Discernment

We reach a thoughtful decision

In a prayerful and serious way

Confession may be part of the process

The help of an Accompanist We listen for the voice of Christ

The restless heart seeking God


Our Catechism #1785

In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into

practice.

We must also examine our conscience before the Lord's Cross.

We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit,

aided by the witness or advice of others

and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.


Essential for Accompaniment

A fundamental orientation toward Jesus

A heart full of mercy

Ability to discern the voice of God in the conscience


Pastoral Strategy

The Holy Father sees accompaniment

As the key strategy

In order to achieve all the other pastoral goals

This includes the care of the environment and the poor


What is accompaniment?


God is still speaking

We begin with this tremendous and amazing reality

God speaks through Scripture & Liturgy

And also: Nature & beauty, music & art

The ministry of the Church

The embrace of a loved one

The quiet of our hearts


God is still speaking

But sometimes we need help

to discern God’s voice.

That’s where an accompanist steps in.


An accompanist

Helps others hear the voice of God as it echoes in the depths of his or her conscience

With reverence for how God may be leading this person Fully aware of the mysterious ways of God

Such accompaniment happens at “God’s speed” (not at our own demanding pace)


To clarify

We walk with each other day in and day out Families, friends, co-workers, neighbors

But merely “hanging out together”

Or meeting for happy hour

Or even going out for lunch

Isn’t necessarily Christian accompaniment


To clarify

What makes it into Christian accompaniment (JoG 170)

Is when we transform our daily chatter

Into an intentional desire to lead others to know Jesus & to love the church

Key word: intentional We intend to lead others to know Jesus

& love the church


How do we lead others to Jesus?

When you lead them… to acts of love rather than selfishness

to forgiveness rather than acting on a grudge

to show mercy

to find a home in the parish

to healing when they are wounded

to seeing when they are blind


Just to be clear

Spiritual direction is a form of accompaniment

One in which two parties form an agreement to walk together within a structured set of conversations

We aren’t talking here about spiritual direction as such

Accompaniment

A closer look But first, a word from one of our sponsors


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Our Plan Today

Continuity with our history as the Church








The Joy of the Gospel

#s 161-172

Everyone must learn about accompaniment

We must learn to listen

Each person’s situation before God and their life in grace are mysteries

It all started in


The Joy of Love

9 chapters

325 articles long

Dealing with Family

Spirituality in marriage

Love in marriage, including sexual loving

Pastoral perspectives from many angles

Chapter 8

And was greatly elaborated in


Apostolic Exhortation

Used by the Popes to express their thoughts on contemporary issues

No doctrinal and binding character not an “Apostolic Constitution” or a “Motu

proprio”

Like an extended sermon, exhorting the faithful to consider particular points


Apostolic Exhortation

“I do not recommend a rushed reading of the text” (#7)

The contents are part of the ordinary magisterium of the Church, As such, they call for our assent

Any study should be marked by an open mind


Joy of Love #291

[The Church] turns with love

to those who participate in an incomplete manner.

The Church must accompany with attention and care the weakest of her children

who show signs of a wounded and troubled love


Joy of Love #291

by restoring in them hope and confidence, like the beacon of a lighthouse in a port

or a torch carried among the people

“…the Church’s task is often like that of a field hospital.”

This is the language of the heart

Not of the lawmaker


Pope Francis’ language

Not juridical

Not canonical

But the language of interiority The call to holiness

His desire to win inner consent

A change of heart

A firm Christian commitment

This is what the church is all about


The most “interior” of words:

Conscience

Shift from commands to ideals

From ruling to serving

From vertical to horizontal

From hostility to friendship

From threats to invitation


The most “interior” of words:

A major shift from

Exterior conformity to the law Even while the interior life was in conflict

To a joyful pursuit of holiness

To loving in the best way possible Within our limits


Joy of Love

Remarriage (JoL 292)

Constructive elements of love

Even though not up to the ideal

Civil marriage or cohabitation (JoL 293)

Stability and care are present

Deep affection and shared children

Let us enter into dialogue with these

In the hope that they will gradually…(JoL 295)


Joy of Love (JoL 296-299)

The way of the Church is not to condemn anyone

But to walk with them

Avoid judgements that do not take into account mitigating circumstances

Should not feel excommunicated


When people fail

Do we cast them off?

Or work to reinstate them? (JoL 296)

No one can be condemned forever

Not only the divorced & remarried

“But everyone in whatever situation they find themselves” (JoL 297)


The logic of integration

They belong to the Church

Because they belong to Christ …not excommunicated (JoL 299)

What is needed is discernment of how God is speaking in their consciences. (JoL 300)


Joy of Love (JoL 300)

…direct the pastors of the Church to undertake discernment of each case,

the degree of responsibility is not the same in all cases

and, therefore, the rules may be applied differently

We must accompany each person…


Situations

2nd union consolidated over time

Tried to save 1st marriage but were abandoned

Enter the 2nd marriage for the kids

Subjectively certain in conscience that the 1st marriage was not valid

Violence, abuse, drugs, addiction


Many situations…

If we consider the immense variety of concrete situations such as those I have mentioned…

No new set of rules

that would adequately apply to all cases

is possible… #300


What is possible (JoL 300)

…is a process of accompaniment and discernment

which guides the faithful

to an awareness of their situation before God.”


Church teaching… JoL #292

The Church has a very strong reason for teaching what it does about divorce It is clearly in the teaching of Jesus

It is in continuity with our history

It calls for self-giving, Paschal Mystery love

And yet, a couple could discern that they are meeting these demands, even when a divorce results


Mitigating circumstances #301

The Church has a solid body of reflection

that helps us understand mitigating circumstances

…we can no longer say, simply, that any person in an irregular situation

is in a state of mortal sin or is deprived of sanctifying grace.


Mitigating circumstances #302

[1] ignorance, [2] inadvertence, [3] duress, [4] fear, [5] habit, [6] inordinate attachments and other [7] psychological or [8] social factors. CCC 1735

[9] affective immaturity, [10] force of acquired habit, [11] conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors

that lessen or even extenuate moral culpability. CCC 2352


Conscience #303

A person can come to see that a particular decision is in line with “what God himself is asking

amid the concrete complexity of one’s limits, while yet not fully the objective ideal.”


Discernment JoL #305

"Discernment must help to find possible ways of responding to God and growing in the midst of limits,"

Not black and white

Don’t close off the way of grace


Don’t throw stones #305

For this reason, no pastor should ever believe that it is enough to simply apply a moral law to people in irregular situations without regard to conscience,

as though throwing stones at people’s lives.

“This shows the closed heart of one hiding behind Church teachings.”


Joy of Love #305

Because of mitigating factors,

it is possible that in an objective situation of sin

a person may not be subjectively guilty;

this person can be living in God’s grace,

can love and can also grow in the life of grace and charity,

while receiving the Church’s help to this end. 351


Footnote 351

In certain cases, this can include the help of the sacraments.

Hence, “I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy” JoG 44

I would also point out that the Eucharist “is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak” JoG 47.


Canon 915

Those upon whom the penalty of excommunication or interdict has been imposed or declared,

and others who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin,

are not to be admitted to holy communion.


Canon 912

If the situation is one in which mortal sin is not a factor…

Any baptized person who is not forbidden by law

may and must be admitted to holy communion.


Pope Francis JoL 308

“I understand those who prefer a more rigorous pastoral care which leaves no room for confusion.

But I sincerely believe that Jesus wants a Church

attentive to the goodness which the Holy Spirit sows

in the midst of human weakness,


Rhetorical style

Missing in Pope Francis’ language: Word of alienation

Exclusion

Enmity

Threat or intimidation

Surveillance and punishment

No anathemas In use in the church from Nicaea to Vatican I


Rhetorical style

At Trent, 100% of the “canons” began with the words: If anyone dares to believe…

And ended with Let him be

Cursed

Banned

Excommunicated

Damned


Rhetorical style

Pope Francis’ style is Poetic

Exhortatory

Affirming of small steps

Compassionate about weakness

Resembling the language of the Fathers

And of Paul…

But not of Trent and the years onward


Rhetorical style

Francis wants to reach hearts and souls

He wants to influence them

Very much like the Fathers of the Church

This began at Vatican II

And Pope Francis is continuing it now

He is raising up the ideal of Catholic life

Knowing not everyone is able to live it


Rhetorical style

So he isn’t laying out laws to follow

But ideals to be lived up to Gradually

As one is able

Given one’s limits

And the circumstances of one’s life

Reality is more important than ideas


His words

Horizontal words Compassion words

Friendship words

Humility words We don’t know everything

Shift from control words to service words Pastors of souls are to…


Persuasion

Like Paul

I could command you But that comes from “on high”

And I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love, forgiveness, and mercy

“I invite you…” (JoG 3)

Like Jesus


Like the Council…

No new laws or doctrines

But a more forward application

Of mitigating circumstances in people’s lives

Rather like St John XXIII

But very much unlike St. John Paul II

And Benedict XVI


Joy of Love #308

[The Church is like] a Mother who,

while clearly expressing her objective teaching,

‘always does what good she can,

even if her shoes get soiled

by the mud of the street’”


No misunderstanding

We have our ideals & rules

And they stand as they are (JoL 307)

…without detracting from [them]

there is a need to accompany with mercy and patience

embracing gradualness (JoL 308)


For example, family planning

222. We want to encourage the couple to be generous in accepting the gift of children.

In this regard, “…family planning fittingly takes place as the result of a consensual dialogue between the spouses,

respect for times,

and consideration of the dignity of the partner.”


Family planning -- #222

The couple must form their consciences

The pastoral leader accompanies the couple on this journey,

helping them to reach decisions in accord with their consciences.

“The parents themselves and no one else should ultimately make this judgment in the sight of God.”


Church teaching…

The Church has a very strong reason for teaching what it does about contraception Openness to new life

Generosity of spirit

Shared responsibility for getting pregnant

But a couple may discern in good conscience that they meet these norms “on the whole” even if not in each individual act of intercourse.


Our Plan Today









Jesus, the Chief Accompanist

The calling of the disciples “come with me”

Matthew, from his customs table

It was mutual – they accompanied each other

Together they clarified their day-by-day mission

They intended to help each other grow closer to God


Jesus, the Chief Accompanist

The road to Caesarea Philippi They walked and talked

25 miles north of the Sea of Galilee

The most personal and pithy question in the New Testament: Who do people say that I am?

And you, who do you say I am?

Accompanying each other


Philemon

Onesimus

Ephesus

Paul in prison

Sends a letter

I could force you but I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love By the way, have a guest room ready…

Colossae


Our Plan Today





Types of accompaniment




Pastoral Accompaniment

The attitudes, words, and actions of the parish priest and pastoral workers.

How the parish programs are organized to assist parishioners. Accompaniment in Faith Formation

The voice or presence of the parish in the wider community, how it is seen and heard.


Personal Accompaniment

The help that family members or friends intend to give each other. The mutual help that spouses or good friends

give each other.

Accidental, short-term accompaniment.


2 other ways we accompany

From On Care for our Common Home We accompany the nature environment

Befriend it and keep it in your heart

From the Joy of the Gospel We accompany the poor and vulnerable

We find ways to partner with them and befriend them


Our Plan Today









Attitude really matters

We tend to resent people

Or give up on them For being absent

Or breaking the rules

We tend to label people “They’re unchurched”

“They don’t support the parish”

We are often personally offended

For all pastoral leaders



A journey of their own God is acting in their lives

A loving touch from you may be all that is needed to open that up

A sense of reverence for the mystery

New attitude: I am Jesus to them




The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment” JoG 169

which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other

Our attitude: Love but do not condemn Pray that you will be filled with love

Be like the father of the prodigal son



Your language

Don’t become the “elder brother”

How you speak to those Living outside our rules

Or beneath our norms

Instead of judging or condemning Compassion, mercy, and hope

Your words: loving and kind



For many (most?) of you

A welcome relief

You no longer have to “throw the book” at people who have suffered

Freely offer them love and your open heart

Welcome them in Jesus’ name


Reconciliation

Into the confessional

People trust they will be heard and loved

An environment of welcome

Become known as a compassionate confessor

Rather than a strict judge of others’ sins

For parish priests


The crowds

How you address the parish in your homilies

How you address crowds of “flower people” Christmas, Easter,

Funerals, Weddings

Offer God’s unconditional love to them

For parish priests


People in irregular situations See them anew

God is acting in their lives

They may not hear their own conscience

Or know they are forgiven

Gradually moving toward God

Honor the mystery in that But do not judge



Don’t jump to conclusions

Don’t assume the 2nd marriage is adultery It very well may not be

Even without an annulment

Instead, listen to the whole story

hope & comfort

discern the voice of God in their conscience guide them to the tribunal if possible


Black or white thinking

You may begin to see that it’s not inside or outside the church

with or not with God

Catholic or non-Catholic

We are all God’s children The poor aren’t the “Catholic poor”

The environment isn’t “where Catholics live”

When is someone “part of the church”?



In sum

The attitudes, words, and actions

Of the parish priest and pastoral team

Make all the difference in the world.

You have all the permission you need to be merciful and compassionate



Parish tools for accompaniment

How do folks encounter Christ? Parish based retreats

Faith sharing at every meeting

Free faith sharing guides for each week

Baptism prep Also, post-baptism up to the first sacraments

Confirmation prep Accompanying parents to play their role

www.ArtofAccompaniment.com


Accompaniment

Faith formation Coaching young parents

Helping them become the primary teachers

Don’t replace them with a program

But accompany them

Offer them assurance and affirmation



Accompaniment

Growing Up Catholic First Reconciliation

First Eucharist

Coach parents to play THE major role Accompaniment for parents

Commonwealth Edition Coach young parents



Accompaniment

Pastoral care Reaching out well beyond our borders

The needs of ecumenical households

Marriage prep A relationship that doesn’t end at the

wedding

Requires that we listen to them carefully

Help them discern God’s voice



Free or inexpensive resources

ArtofAccompaniment.com



The “voice” of the parish

Sit down with a team

Talk through the elements of parish life What is your front door like?

Who meets a guest or visitor?

Who answers the phone or email?

How accessible are you and your team?

Is your parish warm and inviting?

Or cold and scary?




Sit down with a team

Talk through the elements of parish life What is your front door like?

Who meets a guest or visitor?

Who answers the phone or email?

How accessible are you and your team?

Is your parish warm and inviting?

Or cold and scary?

It takes a team for this.

The parish priest cannot usually do it

alone.




What is “the voice” of the parish? In the signs that welcome & direct folks?

In the homily?

In the announcements and written material?

On the web?

Language creates reality What are you saying?


The wider parish community

Pastoral care for the sick and dying

The funeral ministry

The care of non-Catholic spouses

Parish neighbors – the people living down the block

Other Christian churches

Mosques

Synagogues

The poor, homeless, and vulnerable

The natural environment


Remedial work

In the past: a bit closed and rigid

Doors were not always perceived to be “open” People did not feel they would be heard

Their own journey of faith was not trusted

We tended to judge “insiders” vs “outsiders”

The Holy Father is calling us to fix this How?



Remedial work

One way to do this:

Send current active parishioners home to tell their kids and siblings

that the church still loves them.

Tell them our hearts are open to them.

We are ready to accompany them

Without first condemning them.



How to Invite & Welcome

An e-Resource kit

Fully reproducible

Tools to give your active people to help them reach out to others “How to Speak about your

Faith without Annoying Others”

“We are the People of God, and you’re part of the family!”

FREE!



How to Invite & Welcome in God’s Name

Your ambassadors are your active parishioners

Their mission is to their own family & friends

You give them permission

And you make sure your door is open! If not, people will step forward but quickly run

away!


What does it mean to “Open your Doors”

New attitude of mercy & gradualness

Translated into The actions of the pastoral leaders

The voice of the parish

Your people will have to trust that if their family member or friend comes to your door, that you will welcome them That you will trust God’s action in their lives


How to Invite & Welcome

ArtofAccompaniment.com



Personal Accompaniment

The help that family members or friends intend to give each other. The mutual help that spouses or good friends

give each other.

Accidental, short-term accompaniment.


Household life

Married to someone without faith (or religion)

Parents who are old or dying

A job change or loss

Life changes as we age

Tough financial times

The in-laws! Or the kids! Or the neighbors!

The ups and downs of life


Short- term

Accidental meetings

In which God works through you

Keep your attitude strong: God is acting through you to touch others

God is also acting in their lives

Be ready!


Our Plan Today









The method

Does this person have a fundamental orientation toward God

Sometimes such an orientation is lurking beneath the surface Do they desire what is good?

Loving?

Self-giving?

Merciful and compassionate?


The method

Or do they follow only what is expedient? Ignoring the law of love?

No consideration of others?

Self-taking, selfish?

If there is no fundamental orientation to God

…there can be no real discernment


The goal of all Accompaniment

Adult Catholics

of mature faith

who know Jesus

and love the church.


Once oriented toward God…

Listen to their whole story Let them unfold it

Often in the telling, insights arise

Work very hard for fair judgements You will make them

But pray that they will be fair

And don’t impose them

You want to let God’s voice arise in their heart



Like flying a kite You hold the string

But you have to let the wind take the kite

Speak with love and kindness in your voice

Don’t push for a decision if the person is not ready

Patience is the secret

God is acting…



How is God moving them?

What intuitions do they have about what God wants for them?

What divine signs appear in their lives?

Is what they are doing or planning to do “really right” for them? Is it what they’re created and saved for?



Your language should be Invitational

Pastoral

Assuring

Affirming of small steps

At the right moment Share the values and insights of the law

Lead them to self-giving love


Remember

No matter what they have done in the past

God has forgiven them

We should not hold more against them than God does


Mortally wounding actions

Be aware of dark forces at work

Keep your eye on Christ

Warn the person that such an act or attitude, or failure to act Will cause a mortal wound to their soul

Cannot be reconciled with what God wants

Is selfish rather than self-giving


Someone who is Acting on a grudge

Getting revenge

Not caring for their own body

Cheating on his or her spouse

Bullying others

Planning suicide

People acting out of Aggression

Fear

Prejudice

Lust

Greed

Dishonesty

Jealousy or envy


Rape

Familial abuse

False rumors

Murder

Abortion

False oaths & lies

Stealing

Hoarding money while the poor suffer

Exploiting people

Promiscuity

Pornography

And others…

We distinguish between

Capital offenses and objective evil: Do not lead to love

But only to selfishness

Matters for which no case can ever be made

Always evil

Matters of love and marriage: Situations of

relationship & love

Even though not up to the norm of the church

“Irregular situations”

Sometimes evil but often not


For sins in the past

Forgiveness

Moving onward…

God does not lead us into darkness Selfishness or Sin

These are times when tender love is vital

In conclusion

Jesus:

The Chief Accompanist


The road to Emmaus (Luke 24)

He allowed them to speak from their hearts

He heard their whole story

His questions were open ended

He doesn’t try to “solve their problems”

Jesus does not merely affirm the disciples He challenges them.

He calls them “foolish” and “slow of heart.”



Jesus sounds fairly harsh here, but apparently it wasn’t too much They will still ask him to stay for dinner

Accompaniment should also help people see that Jesus stays with them and death/darkness don’t have the final say.



In the end, whatever he said to them led to their being able to recognize Jesus

“Were not our hearts burning within us as he spoke?”

As accompanists…

May our words have the same effect!

Thank you

For what you do in your parishes

For being here today

For taking on this new mission

Come Holy Spirit,

fill the hearts of your faithful

enkindle in us the FIRE of your love!

what does pope francis want? · pope francis – pastoral initiatives ... my covenant with you. ......

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