POPE TALK | KAIROS GLOBAL | JANUARY 2019

Author: Dr. Kochurani Josseph

Animator, National Professional Ministry, India

Life is a time for giving, not possessing

There is no culture that does not condemn theft and the misuse of our possessions. But it is worthwhile to reflect more deeply on the theme of ownership in light of ‘‘Christian wisdom.” Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Pope says “the goods of creation are destined for the whole human race and this “universal destination of goods’’ remains primordial, even if the promotion of the common good requires respect for the right to private property and its exercise.

Where there is a lie there is no love

Christians are called to be truthful not only in our words but in our entire way of acting towards others. Our ultimate model in this regard is Jesus himself. He is the truth in person who, at his trial before Pilate, revealed that he came into this world to testify to the truth. When a person is not communicating authentically, it is a serious matter because it inhibits relationships and therefore inhibits love. 

Beware of Gossip 

Gossiping kills. It kills because the tongue kills like a knife. Be careful, gossip is a terrorist because he or she throws a bomb and leaves. Christians are not exceptional men and women; we are, however, children of our heavenly Father, who is good and does not disappoint us, and places in our hearts the love for our brothers and sisters.

God does not ask for anything before having given much more. 

God invites us to obedience and to rescue us from the deceit of the idolatries that have so much power over us. In fact, to seek one’s fulfilment in the idols of this world empties us and enslaves us, whereas what gives stature and consistency is the relationship with Him. This implies a process of blessing and liberation which is true, genuine rest. This “liberated life” becomes the acceptance of our personal story and reconciles us with what we have lived from childhood to the present, making us adults and capable of giving the right weight to the realities and persons of our life.

Every Christian vocation is spousal.

In the priesthood one loves God's people with all the paternity, tenderness and strength of a husband and a father. The Church does not need aspirants to the role of priests, but men whose heart is touched by the Holy Spirit with unconditional love for the Bride of Christ”.

Entrepreneurship is needed in face of 'scandalous poverty'

 If there is hunger on earth, it is not because food is missing! What is lacking is a free and far sighted entrepreneurship, which ensures adequate production, and a solidarity approach, which ensures fair distribution. The possession of goods is an opportunity to multiply them with creativity and use them with generosity, and thus grow in love and freedom.

Pope Francis says...

• Life is a call to the beauty of fidelity, of generosity and of authenticity. 

• Christ enriched us with his poverty 

• The ownership of a good makes the one who owns it an ‘administrator of Providence’

• Faithful married love, in which a husband loves his wife like Christ loves the Church, is “revolutionary” 

• Truth is a marvellous revelation of God, of his Father’s face, is his boundless love 

• Serving others first requires listening to God in prayer, so that one can give the same ‘yes’ to God’s will as Mary gave.

• “Look at the past with gratitude”, “Live the present with passion” and “Embrace the future with hope”.

• The Ten Commandments help us open our hearts to receive the mercy of God and to show compassion to others.