The Pope said, “it is God who puts a limit to this attachment to money.” A man enslaved by money is not a tale invented by Jesus, the Pope explained, adding it is true even today, where many live adoring money. The life of those who accumulate riches for themselves, has no meaning, he said. They don’t know what it means to be rich in God.
It is always easy to point the finger at someone else rather than to look in the mirror and reflect on what one sees. What the pope says is true; yet, it is also true today that many live adoring power and in the seat of power, paints an image of self-righteousness and of infallibility.
The Catholic Church has been around for some time, seemingly oblivious the developments around the world. It puts much emphasis on the promulgation of doctrines and rules but puts relatively little emphasis upon the need for faith in God, genuine humility, purity of love, and incessant prayers, including praying the rosary.
Did any pope ask the Catholics of the world to pray every day? If so, this blogger is not aware of it. Do prayers work? Absolutely. Do criticisms that are political, even though they can supported by the teachings of Christ work? No, especially not after the fact, not after disasters have already occurred.
The pope referred to "the case of 200,000 Rohingya children out of 800,000 people in refugee camps, who hardly eat and are malnourished, without medicines." [2] These children did not suddenly appear. Did anyone from the Vatican ever bring the word of the Lord to the attention of their parents, their grandparents and their great grandparents? If not, then why not?
In light of this disaster, the article reported that "the Pope urged for an earnest prayer: 'Lord, please touch the hearts of these people who worship God, the God of money. Touch also my heart so that I don’t fall into that and know how to see.'"
Can the pope not see clearly his reflection in the mirror? What is he worshipping? Money or power, or the God of humility, unconditional love and mercy? Why is the pope not visiting these refugee camps, bringing with him food, medication and other necessities of life? Where is his love for mankind and mercy reflected in the mirror? Does he not see either when he sees clearly the lack of love of mankind and mercy in others and castigates them? What would Bergoglio have them do? He does not say, perhaps he does not even know what needs to be done. Asking the world to pray to God, the one and only Triune God, may be a good beginning.
(By the way, Bergoglio, there is no "God of money." To use the term "God of money", even sarcastically, is to say God's name in vain. It is disrespectful and sacrilegious. It is humility, not sarcasm, that touches the hearts of people.)
Even though Bergoglio is a pope and a shepherd, he is still a servant of God, and ought to be a humble one at that, one that ought to live among his sheep, especially those that are lost, to bring them to God. A true servant of God ought to lead like Christ had led, walk the path Christ had walked, so that others may follow.
[1] http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/10/23/pope_francis_mass_homily_greed_idolatry_money_/1344651
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
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