"Spiritual worldliness distances us from leading a coherent life, it makes us incoherent", when we "pretend to be one way" but live "in another ". "The Christian spirit, the Christian identity, is never selfish, it is an ongoing attempt to strive for coherence, cure, avoid scandal, heal others, give a good example".

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In order to safeguard our  Christian identity we must strive for consistency and avoid the temptations of a worldly life, of a "double life", what we put on show as opposed to what is the real said Pope Francis during mass this morning in Casa Santa Marta, inspired by the Second Book of Maccabees, where and the story of old Eleazar, who prefers to die rather than surrender to apostasy of the "single line of thought".

Old Eleazar said, "does not allow himself to be weakened by the spirit of worldliness" when, at the age of ninety, he would not eat pork despite the pleas of his "worldly friends" to save his life. Francis noted how he maintains his dignity "with the nobility" he obtained through leading "a consistent life, that ends in martyrdom, that gives witness".

Spiritual worldliness, Pope Francis said, “tempts us towards an inconsistent lifestyle, in which we pretend to live one way but live in another”. It may be difficult to recognize, he said, but just as woodworm slowly destroys things, so worldliness slowly leads some people to lose their Christian identity.  "The woodworm of worldliness has ruined their Christian identity, they are incapable of consistency. 'Oh, I am so Catholic father, I go to Mass every Sunday, so Catholic'. And then they go  to work, to do their job: ‘If you buy this from me than we can make these gains and you can have this bribe . This is not a consistent life, this is worldliness, to give an example”.

“Worldliness leads us to lead a double life, one of appearance and one of reality, and distances us from God and destroys our Christian identity ". For this reason, Pope Francis continued, Jesus strongly pleads with his Father to save his disciples from such a worldly spirit. The Christian spirit, on the other hand, the Christian identity, he said, is never egoistic, but always tries to be consistent, avoiding scandal, helping others and showing a good example. An example of a bulwark against this spirit is precisely Eleazar who was thinking about young people who, if he had succumbed to the spirit of the world, would be lost because of him.

"The Christian spirit, the Christian identity, is never selfish, it always strives to take care of things through its coherence, to take care, avoid scandal, heal others, give a good example. 'But It’s not easy Father, to live in this world where there are so many temptations and we are lured by the attractions of a double life every single day!” For us it is impossible, he said, and only God can help us avoid such worldliness, which is why we pray in the Psalms, “May the Lord, sustain me”. He is our support against that spirit which destroys our Christian identity. Only Christ can do that.  And our humble prayer should be: "Lord, I am a sinner, really, we all are, but I ask for you to sustain me, to give me your support, so that I do not pretend to be a Christian but live like a pagan, in worldliness". "If you now have a bit 'of time, take the Bible, the Second Book of Maccabees, chapter six, and read this story of Eleazar. It will do you good, it will give courage to be an example to all, and also give you the strength and support to advance in your Christian identity, without compromise, without leading a double life".

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