September 6, 2026 - Pope Leo "Simple Gestures"

During the Mass, the Pope discussed the Sea of Galilee, where, during a storm, Jesus walks on the water and urges us to have faith.

 

This commitment, the Holy Father expressed, must not lead to discouragement in the face of difficulties.

 

He suggested that the procession itself recalls this, evoking the miracle of Jesus walking on the water, reaching His frightened disciples and bringing them safely back to shore after calming the storm.

 

"Precisely when they were most frightened, at the mercy of contrary winds," Pope Leo recalled, the Lord "urged them to have faith, to pray, so that they might find peace and, together with Him, continue sailing toward the desired destination."

 

The Pope also suggested during his homily that only love saves.  He encouraged the faithful to scatter seeds of “Infinite charity” throughout the world because, as Saint Augustine taught us, “the joy of the harvester reveals the intention of the sower.”

 

Pope Leo also wanted against the futility of hatred and violence. “Hatred and violence,” the Holy Father said, “lead to nothing good, but only to destruction and death, always—even when they are a response to injustices suffered. We see this every day, from the smallest circumstances of our domestic lives to the great stage of the world.” He wanted the faithful to remember that every sphere of human existence needs life, hope, serenity, and peace: from individuals themselves to peoples and nations. Therefore, whatever the wound, whatever the offense, he suggested, let us not allow evil to disfigure our humanity or corrupt our hearts.

 

Pope Leo also spoke about “simple gestures” repeated from generation to generation as an effective way of renewing faith and devotion. He emphasized the care shown by a small local community as it gathers solemnly, to represent the entire Church: “one body, in prayer, in sentiments, in intentions, in the ordinary and unanimous developments of our being together.”

 

“Let us therefore,” he continued, “draw close tonight to Jesus and Mary, to the Son and to the mother, so that united, we may be, not only on the lake but during all the nights of the world, a reassuring reflection of God’s presence and an irresistible echo of His love that invites us to love.”

 

Until next week,

Fr. John