Pontiff Cautions Against Putting God Aside

(August 29, 2011) Seeking only money and success implies reasoning "according to the world" and putting God aside, said Pope Benedict XVI. when he reflected on Sunday’s Gospel before praying the midday Angelus. The crowd gathered at Castel Gandolfo included many enthusiastic young people, who took up the chant from Madrid's World Youth Day: "Esta es la juventud del Papa" (These are the Pope's young people).The Holy Father reflected on how Peter's protest at Christ's announcement of the passion is replayed today, Reasoning according to the world - he added – means setting aside God, not accepting his plan of love, almost preventing him from carrying out his all-knowing will. This is why Jesus responds to Peter with particularly harsh words: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me" . The Pope invited Christians to follow Christ by accepting the cross with love, though "in the eyes of the world [this] seems a defeat and a 'loss of life.'""But the Christian knows that he does not carry the cross alone but with Jesus, sharing in his way of donation," the Pontiff affirmed. " After the Angelus, the Pontiff congratulated Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, the diocese in which Castel Gandolfo is located. On Sept. 8, the bishop will mark his 40th anniversary as a priest.As well, the Holy Father congratulated Archbishop Bruno Musarò, just named the apostolic nuncio in Cuba, who will also celebrate his 40th anniversary, on Sept. 19.
After the Marian prayer, the Pope gave a lengthy greeting to pilgrims in different languages. In English he offered words of encouragement to young men studying for the priesthood, telling them not to be afraid of giving their lives completely to Christ. He drew attention to the new class of seminarians at the Pontifical 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 told the young men. "Indeed, may all of us be generous in our commitment to him, carrying our cross with faith and courage."