"This is our power: not to prevail or to cry out louder, according to the logic of the world, but to exercise with strength the meekness of prayer, with which wars can be stopped and peace obtained."
A second keyword from the Gospel that shows the nature of Jesus' strength and power is "announcement," Pope Francis said, pointing to the moment when Jesus invites his disciples to "go forth and make disciples of all nations.
This is "an extreme act of trust in us," the Pope said, noting that Jesus believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. He sends us out despite our shortcomings, knowing that "we will never be perfect and that, if we wait to become better to evangelize, we will never start."
However, one thing that is important to overcome right away is "closure," he said, insisting that "the Gospel cannot be locked up and sealed, because the love of God is dynamic and wants to reach everyone."
"To announce, then, means moving, going out of ourselves," Francis said, adding that with the Lord, "we cannot be quiet, accommodated in your own world or nostalgic for memories of the past; with him it is forbidden to lay down in the securities acquired."
For Jesus, security is moving forward with trust and confidence. Because of this, he prefers "discomfort and constant revivals" to ease and comfort.
"(Jesus) wants us going out, free from the temptations of contenting ourselves when we are doing well and when we have control," the Pope continued.
Pointing to Jesus command to "go," Francis said this going out "into the world" is something the Lord still asks of us today, and which "belongs to the Christian identity."
A Christian is never stationary, but constantly moving with the Lord and with others, Francis said, but cautioned that this doesn't mean a Christian is a runner that tries to beat others to the finish line.
Instead, a Christian is a pilgrim and a "hopeful marathonist," who is meek, faithful, creative and enterprising, while also being decisive, active, respectful and open, he said.
Pope Francis closed his homily telling faithful to imitate the disciples, and bring the announcement of the Good News to "the streets of the world."
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Jesus, he said, "wants the announcement to be carried with his strength: not with the strength of the world, but with the clear and gentle strength of joyful testimony. This is urgent."
He urged faithful to pray for the grace "to not fossilize ourselves" by getting caught up on things that don't matter, but to work concretely for peace and the common good.
"Let us put ourselves into play with courage, convinced that there is more joy in giving than in receiving," he said, adding that "the Lord is alive and risen, who always intercedes for us, whether in the strength of our going, or the courage our path."
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.