Archbishop Emilio Nappa presides the Holy Mass in preparation for Easter
Kindness, harmony, simplicity
Kindness, harmony, simplicity: three qualities to adopt according to Archbishop Emilio Nappa, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State in his homily for the Holy Mass, celebrated at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday morning, April 16, for the employees of the Governorate and the Holy See in preparation for Easter.
Concelebrating with Monsignor Nappa were Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Archbishop Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, Archivist and Librarian of Holy Roman Church, and the spiritual assistants and chaplains of the various Directorates of the Governorate of Vatican City.
Among those present, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, President of the Governorate, and Attorney Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, Secretary General, together with the Directors, Deputy Directors and Office Heads of the various governmental departments.
Below is Monsignor Nappa’s homily:
The Lord GOD opened my ear;
I did not refuse, did not turn away. [Isaiah 50:5]
This expression calls us to listen. Listening presupposes closing the mouth - one cannot speak and listen at the same time. This biblical passage emphasizes the importance of a respectful servant listening to his Lord, a submission that is neither blind nor obsequious but loyal, motivated by respectful devotion - not simply by opportunism; it presents itself as veneration for those who give new meaning to my ubi consistam [the place I stand]. Those who listen willingly do so because they draw strength and life from those who speak!
In preparation for Easter I would like us to ask ourselves if we have the capacity to listen amongst ourselves: can we say that we are a generation that listens to each other (listens to itself and listens to others) and that also listens to God? In the Holy Scriptures, the shemà is one of the essential preconditions for relating to God and, therefore, to being a people. Listening to the same voice/person puts us in a dual relationship simultaneously: in tune with others and with the speaker. This is happening right now (more or less for everyone!!) as I speak.
Today, we are no longer taught to listen respectfully, calmly and without haste; think about what the media has become, the quantity of words and information that reach us daily, avalanches and crowds that reach us and leave us little space and even less time...
On Easter the Lord asks us to once again listen to His love story which spans time and marks the history of humanity through its suffering, betrayal, compromises between powers, derision by the superficial and violent, etc. This should help Christians to free themselves from the obsession of today's greatest illusion: wanting to resolve existence in the contractual bargaining of useful conveniences: buying, selling, doing business, making a profit, social climbing, reaching successful positions and visibility, towering over those who live and work alongside us. Therefore, the price of today's post-modern living is mostly competition, which annihilates the humanity in us and around us and leads to increased suffering, and isn't this suffering perhaps once again crucifying the highest of humans (Jesus Christ) who two thousand years ago was already nailed down precisely by the presumption of possessing the truth? We live warily, anxiously, careful that no one appears better than us: the concern with competition, together with that of appearances, haunts us: if you don't appear beautiful, rich, powerful, popular, well-travelled, then you don't exist, you are a nobody. If at least once you have not given an interview or been in the mass media; if you don’t have more noble titles than the beloved comedian Totò, or honors, merits, etc., you are a nobody (let us remember that Ulysses was saved from Polyphemus precisely because he was a nobody).
Now, each of us –in our own way - are a mechanism and cannot avoid working with others whose roles must well fit with ours in order for the entire apparatus to function. I wish for each of us to experience this serene interlocking, here in the Curia, being aware that everything is a gift and furthermore should adopt the three Christian attitudes. First, kindness: in a narrow-minded and aggressive world, a smile and being polite communicates serenity, even if each one has their own life’s burdens and drama; second is harmony: Saint Paul says each of us must "have the same regard for one another ", at least let us not concentrate on the negative aspects of persons who carry the burdens of their life stories; and finally, simplicity: if we can live without masks, we'll have so much more freedom, especially in a world that makes hypocrisy the bond of a quiet yet fragile coexistence.
May each of us contribute to revealing the true identity of Christ the Savior, making our work part of the mission of the Church in its evangelization of the world, building the civilization of love.
“All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” (Eph 4:31-32).
May this venerable place, which is the Vatican City, also by the merit of our goodwill, be truly blessed always and in any case, according to God. Let us cultivate at all times the loving form of our service, helping each other to do so, knowing that we too, in some way, responsibly represent the Holy Father when we interact among our colleagues and those in charge who direct us.
May the Holy Mother of God help each of us to allow the light of the Resurrection enter into the cracks of our great and small battles against evil: suffering, loneliness, illness, mourning, the exhausting love in the family or in the religious communities to which we belong. May it be the light of love that dispels the darkness of evil that attempts to drag us into its aura of sadness. May it be true joy and hope in all places and at all times.
Happy and Blessed Easter!
