Pope challenges Christians to put God before worldly cares

(August 06, 2012) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday challenged believers to put God before worldly cares saying His promise of a new and eternal life deserves priority over earthly desires for things that can never satisfy the heart. “Jesus wants to help people move beyond the immediate satisfaction of their material needs, although they are important too. He wants to open a horizon of existence which is not simply that of the daily concerns of eating, dressing and career,” the Pope told pilgrims before reciting his weekly midday ‘Angelus’ prayer with them at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome. Reflecting on Sunday’s Gospel the Pope said that while the Israelites in the Old Testament were fed with the miraculous manna from heaven, Jesus does not merely “give something,” but instead “gives himself” to the faithful in Holy Communion. Christ tells the multitude not to labor for the “food that perishes” but “for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” Jesus proclaims himself as “the bread of life,” declaring: “Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Pope Benedict explained that this encounter with Christ goes far beyond “an idea” or “a project,” to reach Jesus “as a living person” who wants everyone “to be fully involved with him and his Gospel.” In the midst of everyday concerns, the Pope said, Christ calls humanity to “look ahead and to open the human horizon to the horizon of God, the horizon of faith.” He therefore urged all to put complete trust and faith in Christ and in his promises.