Homily by Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello at the Thanksgiving Mass at the Holy Spirit Cathedral on Sunday, March 5, 2017

For this purpose, the time of Lent is ideal. It is a time whereby prayer must become more ardent; stronger should be our resolve to renounce sin; acts of charity toward our neighbor and a disposition to forgiveness should become more acute so that we may be worthy to receive the same, when we need charity and forgiveness.

As Pope Francis teaches, Lent comes to us as a providential time to change course, to recover the ability to react to the reality of evil which always challenges us. Lent is to be lived as a time of conversion, as a time of renewal for individuals and communities, by drawing close to God and by trustfully adhering to the Gospel. In this way, it also allows us to look with new eyes at our brothers and sisters and their needs (c.f. Francis, General Audience, 5 March 2014).

We have read the passage of the Gospel of Matthew that narrates the episode in which Jesus is tempted in the desert. He has the most important choice before Him, that which will determine the quality and the authenticity of his mission. The integrity and truth of his relationship with things, with His Father and brothers, is at risk and can be compromised.

But the Tempter cannot manipulate Jesus and fails to deviate him from his mission. Yet Jesus – who is hungry after a long fast – puts before all things the true life and the Word that comes from God, not from the things of the world (first temptation).

Even as he foresees the trial of the Cross, Jesus does not put to a test the fidelity of the Father’s design of divine love. In fact, his relation with the Father is of absolute trust and faithfulness that does not need to be put to a test let alone pretending he act like a magician! (second temptation).

Furthermore, Jesus does not want to enslave his brothers, becoming a despotic leader like the tyrants of the world; He has come to serve, not to dominate; he has descended instead to alleviate the human person and bring them upward toward the kingdom of God.

His kingdom is not of this world, but he wants that this world enters his kingdom; instead of assuming an image of royalty as would a worldly sovereign (third temptation), he wants to transform us in his image and gives himself as the example by willingly sacrificing his life for us, by fully accepting the pain and humiliation of the Cross.

In front of the candor and determination of Jesus in obedience to the Father’s will in fulfilling his mission, the forces of Satan are compelled to withdraw in confusion and defeat.

The Tempter must go away, distressed and conquered. The Angels instead are close to Jesus and serve him; they offer the food that he needs, that he only accepts if sent from the Father. While our forebearers in the Garden of Eden fell for the murderous and seductive words of the serpent and ate of the deadly fruit that he offered, Jesus – after overcoming the trial that gives us back life – receives what he needs to live from the Angels.

Therefore, Jesus teaches us how to keep evil away from our lives, how to guard oneself from those who do not hesitate to exploit the most beautiful and sacred of things for their evil purposes. He teaches us that we must pray very often, to conscientiously make space for the presence of God, to meditate His word so that it will guide our choices and therefore our lives. He teaches us, if we truly want to reconcile with God, that it is necessary for us to reconcile with our brothers; if we affirm to be faithful followers of Christ one must imitate Him by promoting initiatives of solidarity and concrete acts of charity.

 In fact, we will be measured by the same measuring stick with which we measure others. We will encounter the merciful face of the Father if we have been operators of peace and mercy. We will find true peace and forgiveness for our shortcomings if we have forgiven truly with our hearts those that have done us wrong, as the Lord’s Prayer reminds us daily.

Pope Francis has written in his Apostolic Letter “Misericordia et Misera”, read at the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, even when the Holy Door is closed, the door of mercy of our heart continues to remain wide open. (c.f. Francesco, Misericordia et Misera”, n.16). He says: “We have learned that God bends down to us (cf. Hos 11:4) so that we may imitate him in bending down to our brothers and sisters.…..

The Holy Door that we have crossed in this Jubilee Year has set us on the path of charity, which we are called to travel daily with fidelity and joy…. Mercy renews and redeems because it is the meeting of two hearts: the heart of God who comes to meet the human heart.

Our hearts of stone become hearts of flesh (cf. Ezek 36:26) capable of love despite our sinfulness. I come to realize that I am truly a “new creation” (Gal 6:15): I am loved, therefore I exist; I am forgiven, therefore I am reborn; I have been shown mercy, therefore I have become a vessel of mercy. (c.f. Francesco, Misericordia et Misera”, n.16).

The Holy Father teaches us that the penitential path and the one of conversion must flow in charity, in mercy, in solidarity and in availing oneself to all, discovering the face of Jesus Christ in the face of others. Mother Teresa would say: “Jesus is the hungry person to feed, Jesus is the naked person to clothe, Jesus is the homeless person to shelter, Jesus is the sick person to heal, Jesus is peace to be given.”

The faith, tempered by trials and made solid by prayer, must therefore become active mercy, benevolence, producing fruits of grace and thus becoming appealing to our neighbors close and far who may be enticed to ask themselves the reason for these fruits, what is the true source of this life of grace and fulfillment that is possible only if moved by the Heart of Christ, that Sacred Heart to which Ghana is consecrated.

Therefore, I pray that we, as the Pope says: “are called to promote a culture of mercy” that “is shaped in assiduous prayer, in docility to the working of the Holy Spirit, in knowing the lives of the saints and in being close to the poor. (c.f. Francesco, Misericordia et Misera”, n. 20).

I pray that you will be ever-joyous witnesses to the Risen Lord, placing your lives with generosity at the service of goodness, of your country and of the Church. I implore Mary, Mother of God and our Mother as well, to intercede through her Son so that Ghana will be granted peace, prosperity and harmony, so that the works of evangelization will bring closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus the beloved sons and daughters of this noble and beautiful land.