Pope Benedict XVI, commenting on Sunday’s Gospel during his Angelus message, invited
all people to surrender to the Lord, and allow themselves to be transformed by grace,
and to renew their way of thinking.
Speaking to thousands of pilgrims in the
courtyard of the Papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Holy Father said when
the goal of a person’s life is aimed at social success and personal well-being, the
person is no longer thinking with God, but with man.
The Pope explained the
Christian follows the Lord when he accepts his cross with love, knowing Jesus is sharing
in his journey of self-giving.
After the Angelus, Pope Benedict greeted the
new seminarians at Rome’s North American College.
“Dear Seminarians, do not
be afraid to take up the challenge in today’s Gospel to give your lives completely
to Christ,” he said. “Indeed, may all of us be generous in our commitment to him,
carrying our cross with faith and courage.”