The hope of Christ’s coming pushes us to live life to the full, not to disengagement, says Pope
Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) - In today's Angelus, Benedict XVI reiterated that Christian hope is not a "eulogy to disengagement." While it affirms "the futility of earthly concerns, “the expectation of the fulfilment of the "blessed hope", his coming, should push us even more to live a rich life, full of good works".
The Pope quotes the Sunday Gospel (Luke 12, 32-48): "Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy (Luke 12:33) "and adds:" It 's an invitation to use things without egoism, the thirst for possession or domination, but according to God's logic, the logic of attention to the other, the logic of God: as Romano Guardini succinctly writes, "in the form of a relationship: starting from God, in view of God" (Accettare se stessi, Brescia 1992, 44).
In 2007, the pontiff even devoted an encyclical, Spe Salvi, to hope. In Jesus’ proposal - he says - "Our hearts are open to the hope that illuminates and enlivens concrete existence: we have the certainty that "the Gospel is not merely a communication of things that can be known—it is one that makes things happen and is life-changing. The dark door of time, of the future, has been thrown open. The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life"(Spe Salvi, 2). As we read in the passage from Hebrews in today's liturgy, Abraham advanced with trusting heart in the hope that God opens up to him: the promise of land and "numerous descendents” and he sets out “not knowing where he was to go”, trusting only in God (cf. 11.8 to 12).
"In this regard - Pope Benedict XVI continues - I would like to draw attention to some saints who we will celebrate this week and who have set their own life starting from God and in view of God Today we remember St. Dominic de Guzman the thirteenth century founder of the Dominican Order, which carries the mission to educate society about the truths of faith, through a preparation of study and prayer. At the same time, we remember St. Clare of Assisi, who continued the Franciscan mission founding the Order of the Poor Clares. August 10 we remember the holy deacon Lawrence, the third century martyr whose relics are venerated in Rome at the Basilica of San Lorenzo outside the Walls.
Finally, we will commemorate two other martyrs of the twentieth century who shared the same fate in Auschwitz. On August 9, we remember the Carmelite Saint, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Edith Stein, and Aug. 14 the Franciscan priest and Saint Maximilian Kolbe, founder of the Militia of Mary Immaculate. Both crossed the dark time of World War II without ever losing sight of hope, the God of life and love. "
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