October 14, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI's Angelus Message

            Sunday, the Holy Father gave his Angelus reflection on Sunday's Gospel, Mark 10:17-30 – the story of the rich man who asks Christ, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  He reflected upon the idea of wealth, and Jesus' saying of how difficult it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God, impossible for man but not impossible for God. 

            The Holy Father reflects, “As often happens in the Gospels, everything begins from an encounter”.  This man had many possessions and yet desired true happiness.  He is searching and seeking after fullness of life, but is dependent upon his own wealth. 

            The Holy Father teaches:

            “Jesus welcomes the profound desire that is in him and, the evangelist notes, casts a gaze full of love upon him, God's own gaze (cf. 10:21).  But Jesus also understands what the man's weakness is: it is precisely his attachment to his many possessions, and this is why he invites him to give everything to the poor, so that his treasure – and thus his heart – will no longer be on earth but in heaven...” 

            He conludes by quoting Saint Clement who advises that those who are rich and have many possessions “must learn how to use their wealth and obtain life”.  The Holy Father then offered three saints who were wealthy and had many possessions but used their wealth for the poor and those in need – Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, and Saint Charles Borromeo.  Perhaps, throughout this week, we could ask their intercession on how we can best use our talents and possessions in God's service.

            Following his address, the Holy Father rejoiced in sharing the news that in Prague, Frederick Bachstein and 13 of his confreres of the Order of Friars Minor were beatified, the first beatifications to be held within the Year of Faith!  They were martyrs who died for their faith, and our Holy Father exhorts us, “...they remind us that believing in Christ also means suffering with him and for him”. 

            Finally, when greeting the English-speaking pilgrims present in Saint Peter's Square, he said, “During this Year of Faith may we, like the man in today's Gospel, have the courage to ask the Lord what more can we do, especially for the poor, the lonely, the sick and the suffering, so as to be witnesses and heirs to the eternal life God promises.” 

            Blessed Mother, pray for us!

Translation taken from http://www.zenit.org/article-35717?l=english.

Picture taken from http://www.ofm.org/ofm/?p=1983&lang=en.