Pope Francis in his message for Lent 2017said: “Lazarus teaches us that other persons are a gift. A right relationship with people consists in gratefully recognising their value. Even the poor person at the door of the rich is not a nuisance, but a summons to conversion and to change. The parable [of the rich man and Lazarus] first invites us to open the doors of our heart to others because each person is a gift, whether it be our neighbour or an anonymous pauper.

“Lent is a favourable season for opening the doors to all those in need and recognising in them the face of Christ. Each of us meets people like this every day. Each life that we encounter is a gift deserving acceptance, respect and love. The word of God helps us to open our eyes to welcome and love life, especially when it is weak and vulnerable. But in order to do this, we have to take seriously what the Gospel tells us about the rich man.”

The root of all evil

Pope Francis in his message for Lent 2017 said:  “The Apostle Paul tells us that ‘the love of money is the root of all evils’ (1 Tim 6:10). It is the main cause of corruption and a source of envy, strife and suspicion. Money can come to dominate us, even to the point of becoming a tyrannical idol (cf. Evangelii Gaudium, 55). Instead of being an instrument at our service for doing good and showing solidarity towards others, money can chain us and the entire world to a selfish logic that leaves no room for love and hinders peace.”

Encounter with Christ

Pope Francis in his message for Lent 2017 said: “Dear friends, Lent is the favourable season for renewing our encounter with Christ. The Lord, who overcame the deceptions of the Tempter during the 40 days in the desert, shows us the path we must take. May the Holy Spirit lead us on a true journey of conversion, so that we can rediscover the gift of God’s word, be purified of the sin that blinds us, and serve Christ present in our brothers and sisters in need.

“I encourage all the faithful to express this spiritual renewal also by sharing in the Lenten Campaigns promoted by many Church organisations in different parts of the world, and thus to favour the culture of encounter in our one human family.”

The hypocrisy of capitalism

Addressing 1,100 Focolare Movement members, Pope Francis said: “The principal ethical dilemma of this capitalism is the creation of discarded people, then trying to hide them or make sure they are no longer seen. A serious form of poverty in a civilisation is when it is no longer able to see its poor, who are first discarded and then hidden.

“Aircraft pollute the atmosphere, but, with a small part of the cost of the ticket, they will plant trees to compensate for part of the damage created. Gambling companies finance campaigns to care for the pathological gamblers that they create. And the day that the weapons industry finances hospitals to care for the children mutilated by their bombs, the system will have reached its pinnacle. This is hypocrisy! …

“Capitalism knows philanthropy, not communion. It is simple to give a part of the profits, without embracing and touching the people who receive those ‘crumbs.’ Instead, even just five loaves and two fishes can feed the multitude if they are the sharing of all our life. In the logic of the Gospel, if one does not give all of himself, he never gives enough of himself.”

(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)

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