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Pope Francis gave the following homily at Mass in Timor-Leste
Taci Tolu Esplanade (Dili, Timor-Leste) – Tuesday, 10 September 2024
Isaiah 9-1-6
But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy;
they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid′ian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Gospel Luke 1:28 and 42
The angel Gabriel came to Mary and said, “Hail, full of grace,[e] the Lord is with you!”[f]
Elizabeth exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
These were the words with which the prophet Isaiah addressed the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the first reading, at a prosperous time for the city, unfortunately also characterized by a great moral decadence.
There was so much wealth, but well-being blinded the powerful, deluded them that they are self-sufficient, that they did not need the Lord, and their presumption led them to be selfish and unjust.
For this reason, even though there were so many goods, the poor were abandoned and suffered from hunger, infidelity wzs rampant and religious practice as increasingly reduced to mere formality.
The deceptive façade of a world that at first glance was perfect thus hid a much darker, much harsher and cruel reality, in which there was so much need for conversion, mercy and healing.
For this reason, the prophet announces to his fellow citizens a new horizon, which God would open before them: a future of hope, a future of joy, where oppression and war will be banished forever (cf. Is 9:1-4).
He would bring forth for them a great light (cf. v. 1) which would free them from the darkness of sin by which they were oppressed, and he would do so not by the power of armies, weapons or riches, but through the gift of a son (cf. vv. 5-6).
Let us pause to reflect on this image:
God is making his light shine and he is saving through the gift of a son.
In every place, the birth of a child is a luminous moment, a moment of joy and celebration, and sometimes it also arouses in us good desires, to renew ourselves in goodness, to return to purity and simplicity.
In front of a newborn baby, even the hardest heart warms up and is filled with tenderness.
The fragility of a child always carries a message so strong that it touches even the most hardened souls, bringing with it movements and resolutions of harmony and serenity.
Brothers and Sisters, it is wonderful what happens when a child is born!
God’s closeness is through a child. God becomes a child. And not only to amaze and move us, but also to open ourselves to the Father’s love and let ourselves be shaped by it, so that he can heal our wounds, recompose our disagreements, restore order to our existence.
In East Timor it is beautiful, because there are so many children: you are a young country where in every corner you can feel life pulsating, exploding.
And this is a great gift. The presence of so many young people and so many children, in fact, constantly renews our energy and our life.
But even more it is a sign, because making room for children, for the little ones, welcoming them, taking care of them, and making ourselves little before God and in front of each other, are precisely the attitudes that open us to the action of the Lord.
By becoming children we allow God’s action in us.
Today we venerate Our Lady as Queen, that is, the mother of a King, Jesus, who wanted to be born small, to become our brother, asking for the “yes” of a humble and fragile young woman (cf. Lk 1:38).
Mary understood this, to the point that she chose to remain small for the rest of her life, to make herself smaller and smaller, serving, praying, disappearing to make room for Jesus, even when this cost her a lot.
Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, let us not be afraid to make ourselves small before God, and in front of one another.
Let us not be afraid to lose our lives, to give our time, to review our programs and to resize our projects when necessary, not to diminish them, but to make them even more beautiful through the gift of ourselves and the acceptance of others.
All this is symbolized very well by two beautiful traditional jewels of this land: the Kaibauk and the Belak. Both are made of precious metal. It means that they are important!
The First, The Kaibauk, symbolizes the horns of the buffalo and the light of the sun, and is placed at the top, to adorn the forehead, as well as on the top of the houses.
It speaks of strength, energy and warmth, and can represent the power of God, who gives life.
But not only that: placed at the level of the head, in fact, and at the top of the houses, it reminds us that, with the light of the Word of the Lord and with the power of his grace, we too can cooperate with our choices and actions in the great plan of redemption.
The Second, The Belak, which is placed on the chest, is complementary to the first.
It recalls the delicate light of the moon, which humbly reflects, in the night, the sunlight, enveloping everything in a light fluorescence.
It speaks of peace, fertility, sweetness, and symbolizes the tenderness of the mother, who with the delicate reflections of her love makes what she touches luminous with the same light she receives from God.
Kaibauk and Belak, the strength and tenderness of Father and Mother.
This is how the Lord manifests his kingship, made of charity and mercy.
