Yesterday, in his homily, Father Giovanni Russo, parish priest of the church of Santa Maria Assunta in Pompeii and chaplain of the Secondigliano prison, drew inspiration from the depths of the Gospel where Jesus reminds his disciples, "You are the salt and light of the Earth." He recalled the importance and joy of life, a call Pope Francis has often extended to younger generations: "Dear young people, don't 'gamble your life away,' don't retire prematurely,' don't watch life from the balcony."
“Don't gamble with your life”: an invitation not to just get by
This message is part of a broader invitation to live with intensity, passion, and responsibility, avoiding superficiality. Then comes that very powerful passage: don't "just get by," a warning that invites us not to be "couch potatoes" or "parked cars," but to move forward, get our hands dirty, make courageous choices, even bad ones, rather than stand still.
Dreaming and acting, going against the grain
"Dreaming and acting" is the Holy Father Francis's invitation to not spend our lives in front of a screen or as tourists of the world, but to "put our lives on the line," giving them to others and building a concrete future. Going against the grain: the Pope encourages us not to be "domesticated" by the consumerist mentality or conformity, but to pursue high ideals.
Stories from prison and the no to violence
To these reflections, the priest, drawing on the many conversations he had during his long experience as a chaplain, also shared the stories of inmates whose lives were shattered. Among them was Giuseppe Musella, 28, from Ponticelli, who confessed to the murder of his sister Jlenia. Father Giovanni therefore urged everyone, and especially young people, not to give in to the logic of violence.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
Don Giovanni Russo's homily was very interesting, but I think it's difficult for young people not to risk their lives, especially in such a complicated and distracting world. The message is important, but words must be accompanied by concrete actions.