Pope says God differs from man in humility

(September 24, 2012) A key point on which God differs from man is humility, Pope Benedict XVI said on Sunday. “We, who are little, desire to appear great, to be first; while God, who is truly great, is not afraid to humble himself, and make Himself last,” the Pope told pilgrims and tourists who came to recite the weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with him at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome. The Pope reflected on Sunday’s Gospel of Mark where Jesus announces his impending death and resurrection as the disciples were arguing as to who was the greatest among them. In response Jesus tells them “if anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Jesus even takes a child saying whoever receives one such child in his name receives him as well as the Father. Pope Benedict observed that between Jesus and his disciples there is a deep interior distance - two different wavelengths, as it were. “God’s logic,” he said, “is always ‘other’ with respect to our own.” And so, “following the Lord requires of each person a profound conversion, a change in his or her way of thinking and living, it requires us to open our hearts to be enlightened and to be inwardly transformed.” The Holy Father thus called on Christians to follow Jesus Christ in becoming “last of all and servants of all,” and pointed to the Virgin Mary who, he said, is perfectly " in tune " with God in following Jesus faithfully on the path of love and humility.
After the ‘Angelus’ prayer, Pope Benedict urged for greater care of children and invited prayers for Christians in the Middle East. Addressing Polish-speaking pilgrims, the Pope wished that Jesus’ reference to children in Sunday’s Gospel inspire parents and those responsible for education and living conditions to ensure the safety and happy growth of children. “I hope every young person be able to experience the love and warmth of the family!” the Pope said. Speaking to French visitors, the Holy Father urged for prayers for the Christians of Middle East and for peace and serene dialogue among religions. He thanked them for the success of his Sept. 14-17 visit to Lebanon.