“Do not hide old age, do not hide the fragility of old age,” Pope Francis said in his Wednesday audience. “This is a teaching for all of us.”

If the elderly, who have seen it all by that time, keep intact their passion for justice, then there is hope for love, and also for faith.

“God is not afraid of our prayer of protest, no!” Pope Francis said in his Wednesday audience, during which he talked about lessons the faithful can take from the book of Job.

At times, by over-emphasizing our efforts to do good works, we have created an ideal of holiness excessively based on ourselves.

“The life of our communities must know how to benefit from the talents and charisms of so many elderly people who are already retired, but who are a wealth to be treasured,” Pope Francis said in his weekly audience.

The story of Eleazar refusing to back down from his faith even in his old age reminds us that faith without action is just hypocrisy.

“Look closely at the relationship you have with your mothers-in-law: at times they are a bit special, but they have been the mother to your spouse, they have given you everything.”

“Honor thy father and mother” is a solemn commitment. It is not just about one’s own father and mother. It is about their generation and the generations before, honoring the elderly.

On this night, brothers and sisters, let us allow the women of the Gospel to lead us by the hand, so that, with them, we may glimpse the first rays of the dawn of God’s life rising in the darkness of our world.

Jesus’ peace “is not an armed peace, never!” Pope Francis said in his general audience. “The weapons of the Gospel are prayer, tenderness, forgiveness and freely-given love for one’s neighbor.”