Pope: Trust in the provident care of God the Father
Pope Benedict underlined on Sunday the need to put God before wealth. He was speaking
to and estimated 30 thousand people who had joined the Holy Father in St Peter’s Square
for the Sunday Angelus. The Pope said that those who believe in God should trust
in Providence and put the search for his will in first place, ahead of the desire
for wealth “In today’s Gospel Jesus invites us to trust in the provident care of
our heavenly Father and to seek first his Kingdom and its righteousness. May his
words inspire us to see all things in their true perspective and to live our lives
in joyful faith and sure hope in God’s promises.” Yet, he added this is not “fatalism”.
However, Pope Benedict said it “does not exempt from the hard struggle for a dignified
life”, it should lead to an existence based on “a simpler and more sober lifestyle,
the hard work of every day and respect for creation, which God put into our care”. The
Pope’s words were drawn from a passage from the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus called
on his disciples to trust the providence of God the Father. “It is clear”, the
Holy Father added, “that a teaching like this from Jesus, whilst always true and valid
for everyone, is practiced in different ways according to various vocations of people.
A Franciscan friar might be able to follow it in a more radical way, whilst a
family man would take into account his duties towards his wife and children. In
any event, said the Pope, Christians are recognisable by their absolute trust in the
heavenly Father, as did Jesus.” Listen to Lydia O'Kane's report here.