In his homily prepared for New Year’s Eve, Pope Francis asks how we can give thanks to God after such a difficult year. God, he says, always has compassion on us, and we are grateful for the acts of closeness, care and solidarity that we saw throughout 2020.
By Vatican News staff reporter
Pope Francis, suffering from an attack of sciatica, did not attend the celebration of Vespers and the recitation of Te Deum – the Church’s solemn thanksgiving song over the past year – but even so, it offered a reflection on how we can give thanks for the year that is coming to an end.
The liturgy was presided over by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who gave the homily prepared by Pope Francis for the occasion.
In his homily, Pope Francis wrote that thanking “at the end of a year like this” may seem “forced”, or even shocking, especially when we think of families that have lost loved ones, of the sick, of those who have lost suffered alone, or that lost their jobs.
“What sense does a tragedy like that have,” he asked. In view of our questions, he answered, God does not appeal to “higher reasons”, as if He were going to sacrifice individuals for some greater good. Instead, His answer is the Incarnation, sending His Only Son to become a man to save everyone.
Like the good Samaritan, God is moved by compassion, helping those who suffer. And in this attitude, said the Pope, perhaps we can “find the ‘sense’ of this tragedy, this pandemic, as well as other scourges that afflict humanity: that of awakening compassion in us and provoking attitudes and gestures of proximity, care, solidarity, affection ”.
We see this happening all over the world, even in Rome, Pope Francis wrote, and “this is mainly why we give thanks to God tonight: for the good things that happened in our cities during the blockade and, in general, throughout the pandemic, which unfortunately is not over yet ”.
Pope Francis praised “many people who, without making a sound, tried to make the weight of judgment more bearable”. He highlighted not only health professionals, priests and religious on the front lines, but also “all those who strive every day in the best way to continue serving their families and those who are committed to serving the common good.” it especially highlighted teachers and school administrators, as well as civic leaders who put the good of others, especially the most disadvantaged, above their own private interests.
“All of this cannot happen without the grace, without the mercy of God,” said Pope Francis. “How is it possible … that so many people, with no other reward but to do good, find the strength to care for others?” he asked. “Ultimately, even if they don’t know it themselves, what strengthens them is the strength of God, which is more powerful than our selfishness.” And so, the Pope said: “For this reason, tonight we praise Him, because we believe and know that all the good that is accomplished day after day on earth, in the end, comes from Him, comes from God. “
The Pope concluded his prepared intervention looking to the future that awaits us, with the prayer: “May your mercy be with us always, Lord, because in you we hope”.