Pope warns against reducing religion to dead habits; reconfirms Lebanon visit

(September 03, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday warned against the temptation of reducing religion to "practices of a secondary habit", an attitude that pervades every religion, including Christianity. He was speaking to pilgrims and visitors gathered in the courtyard of his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, just southeast of Rome, to recite the weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with him. The Pope reflected on Sunday’s Gospel reading where Jesus condemns the Scribes and Pharisees for rendering God merely lip-service, but whose hearts were far away from Him. Jesus said, “in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts." The Pope said they disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition. This is why St. James urges Christians to be “doers of the word and not hearers only."
The Pope stated that the Word of God which is God’s law is "an essential element of the Jewish religion and even Christianity, where it finds its fulfilment in love." But after settling in the promised land, the Israelites are tempted to entrust their safety and joy to something that is no longer the Word of the Lord: to material goods, power, other 'gods' that are actually empty, that are idols. The law of God remains, but not as the rule of life - only as a facade, a cover. So religion is reduced to secondary habit, to satisfy the human need to feel we have done right before God. “This,” the Pope warned, “is a serious risk in every religion, which Jesus encountered in his time, but that may occur, unfortunately, even in Christianity. "
After reciting the ‘Angelus ‘ prayer, the Pope, confirmed his upcoming visit to Lebanon next week. Greeting a group of Lebanese pilgrims in French, the Pope said, “I assure you of my prayers and my joy to visit your beautiful country soon. I cordially bless you all". Some analysts have described the papal visit as "difficult" and "unlikely" given the tensions in the Middle East, especially in Syria, Lebanon’s neighbour. Instead, the Lebanese Church is eagerly looking forward to Pope Benedict’s visit, Sept. 14-16, during which he will deliver his Apostolic Exhortation, a set of recommendations drawn on the findings of the Special Synod of Bishops for Middle East, held in October 2010.