The Evangelical Pope | Illuminate Hope

Each week we let Saint Pope John Paul II share meaningful signposts to spark socio-economic resolves through justice and righteousness combined with mercy and compassion; in short, love.

               22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

               __ Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)

The Hague, 13 May 1985 | Our first human task remains to protect each other from suffering and free our neighbors from torment. Jesus taught us, “Deliver us from evil.”

               Yes, deliver us from the evil that causes human suffering, the selfishness that causes so many people to suffer, and the suffering that comes to us unbidden.

               Deliver us from suffering in many forms: natural disasters, hunger, disease, loneliness, war, persecution, discrimination, and suspicion.

               Deliver us from the evil that people have no share in the earth's goods, which they should share.

Jesus identifies Himself so much with humanity, especially with the suffering and all those who try to alleviate and bear suffering, that He will one day say: “I was sick, I was thirsty, I was a stranger, I was in prison” [9]. I no longer saw an outcome, was lonely, and had fear.

Those inspired by the Spirit can listen, comfort, encourage, take responsibility, create peace, and illuminate new hope. After all, the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control [10].

Where those fruits ripen, something of eternal spring is already breaking through! May the Lord make your heart receptive [11].

Extracted from (translated from Dutch):

VISITA PASTORALE NEI PAESI BASSI, SANTA MESSA PER GLI AMMALATI E GLI HANDICAPPATI OMELIA DI GIOVANNI PAOLO II, L'Aja (Paesi Bassi), Lunedì, 13 maggio 1985

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/nl/homilies/1985/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19850513_malati-aja.html#_ftn9