Jesus moved with pity

The "gaze" of Jesus; our own gaze at the rest of humanity; charity and development; fasting and praying are few of the elements mentioned in the Message of Benedict XVI for Lent 2006. The text has as its title a verse taken from the Gospel of St Mark: "Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity."

The Pope says that God is with us even in the valley of darkness. He is there to guard us and sustain us. "Yes, even today the Lord hears the cry of the multitudes longing for joy, peace, and love.

As in every age, they feel abandoned. Yet, even in the desolation of misery, loneliness, violence and hunger that indiscriminately afflict children, adults and the elderly, God does not allow darkness to prevail."

The Pope introduces his theme about the compassionate 'gaze' of Christ basing himself on the Gospel of Mark. "He is moved with pity for the crowds. He chooses to defend them from the wolves, even at the cost of His own life.

"The gaze of Jesus embraces individuals and multitudes, and He brings them all before the Father, offering Himself as a sacrifice of expiation."

Pope Benedict then moves from the "gaze" of Jesus to our own 'gaze' on mankind. These two are connected together as "it is quite impossible to separate the response to people's material and social needs from the fulfilment of the profound desires of their hearts".

This connection made Pope Paul VI describe underdevelopment as a scandal. In the Encyclical Populorum Progressio, he denounced "the lack of material necessities for those who are without the minimum essential for life, the moral deficiencies of those who are mutilated by selfishness" and "oppressive social structures, whether due to the abuses of ownership or to the abuses of power, to the exploitation of workers or to unjust transactions."

As the antidote to such evil, Paul VI suggested not only "increased esteem for the dignity of others, the turning towards the spirit of poverty, co-operation for the common good, the will and desire for peace", but also "'the acknowledgement by man of supreme values, and of God, their source and their finality".

This quote is an example of the "complete humanism" proposed by the social teaching of the Church and which was defined by Paul VI as the "fully-rounded development of the whole man and of all men". Benedict XVI built on this definition and combines it with his theme of the "gaze" of Christ.

"In the face of the terrible challenge of poverty afflicting so much of the world's population, indifference and self-centred isolation stand in stark contrast to the 'gaze' of Christ. Fasting and almsgiving, which, together with prayer, the Church proposes in a special way during the Lenten season, are suitable means for us to become conformed to this 'gaze.' "

In the light of this, the Pope notes that no economic, social or political project can replace that "gift of self to another through which charity is expressed". He shows the link between love of God and love for others.

"Those who act according to the logic of the Gospel live the faith as friendship with God Incarnate and, like Him, bear the burden of the material and spiritual needs of their neighbours. They see it as an inexhaustible mystery, worthy of infinite care and attention.

"They know that he who does not give God gives too little; as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta frequently observed, the worst poverty is not to know Christ. Therefore, we must help others to find God in the merciful face of Christ. Without this perspective, civilisation lacks a solid foundation."

This belief made the Church promote many development projects, such as hospitals, universities, professional formation schools, and small businesses. "Such initiatives demonstrate the genuine humanitarian concern of those moved by the Gospel message, far in advance of other forms of social welfare.

"These charitable activities point out that the way to achieve a globalisation that is focused upon the true good of mankind and, hence, is the path towards authentic peace." All these projects show that, as Jesus was moved by compassion for the crowd, so is the Church by similar compassion.

This example of Christ helps the Church avoid the temptation of replacing the "believing" by the "doing". This temptation reduces Christianity to merely human wisdom bereft of a concept of integral salvation.

"It is this integral salvation that Lent puts before us, pointing towards the victory of Christ over every evil that oppresses us. In turning to the Divine Master, in being converted to Him, in experiencing His mercy through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we will discover a 'gaze' that searches us profoundly and gives new life to the crowds and to each one of us.

"It restores trust to those who do not succumb to scepticism, opening up before them the perspective of eternal beatitude. Throughout history, even when hate seems to prevail, the luminous testimony of His love is never lacking."