Pope Francis: to reject the generosity of God is a sin

In life, Christians face the choice of being open to the encounter with God's generosity or closed in their own interests, said Pope Francis.

The banquet to which Jesus often refers in his parables "is an image of heaven, of eternity with the Lord," the Pope said on November 5 in his homily during the morning Mass at the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

However, he added, "in the face of that gratuity, the universality of the party, there is that attitude that closes the heart:" I'm not going. I prefer to be alone (or) with people I like. Closed ". "

“This is sin, the sin of the people of Israel, our sin. Be closed, "said the pope.

The reading of the Gospel of St. Luke of the day told that Jesus told the parable of a rich man whose invitation to a great banquet was rejected by those whom he invited.

Irritated by their refusal, the man instead commands his servants to invite "the poor, the paralyzed, the blind and the lame" ensuring that "none of those who have been invited will have a taste of my banquet".

Those guests who "say to the Lord, 'Do not disturb me with your party", "explained Francis, close" to what the Lord offers us: the joy of meeting him. "

For this reason, he said, Jesus says that "it is very difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven".

"There are good rich, holy ones who are not attached to wealth," said the pope. “But the majority are attached to wealth, closed. And that's why they can't understand what the party is. They have the security of the things they can touch. "

While others may refuse to meet God because they do not feel worthy, Francis said at the Lord's table, "everyone is invited", especially those who think they are "bad".

"The Lord is waiting for you in a special way because you are bad," said the Pope.

“Let's reflect on the parable that the Lord gives us today. How's our life going? What do I prefer? Do I always accept the invitation of the Lord or do I close myself in things, in my little things? " churches. "And we ask the Lord for the grace to always accept to go to his feast, which is free."