Pope Frabcis said at his
weekly general audience on Wednesday that life is a time for
giving, not possessing, according to Vatican News.
Continuing his catechesis on the Ten Commandments, the
pontiff focused on the Seventh: You shall not steal.
He noted that there is no culture that does not condemn theft
and the misuse of our possessions.
But, he says, it is worthwhile to reflect more deeply on the
theme of ownership "in light of Christian wisdom."
Ownership, he went on, is a responsibility; we can only truly
possess "that which we know how to give."
If there are things which we cannot give away, "it is because
those things possess me, have power over me, and I am a slave to
it."
Here, the pope said, we can once more look to the example of
Christ Himself, who, "though He was God, 'did not count equality
with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself'; and He has
enriched us with His poverty."
While humanity continually strives for more, "God redeems
humanity by becoming poor."
What makes us truly rich, Francis said, "is not goods, but
love."
The Holy Father concluded his catechesis with the reflection
that "once more Jesus Christ reveals to us the full meaning of
the Scriptures. 'You shall not steal' means 'love with your
goods, profit by your means to love as you can. Then your life
will become good and the possession will truly become a gift.
Because life is not a time for possessing but for giving.'"
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
