ROME (The Catholic Herald, UK) - Pope Benedict XVI has said that the global financial crisis is proof that people should build their lives on the more solid foundation of the Word of God.Speaking to the Synod of Bishops in Rome the Pontiff said that the collapse of the great banks showed that material things were secondary and did not offer the stability of the Word of God. On the same day, October 6, the European stock markets took a plunge after the news came that more banks needed to be bailed out by governments.
Benedict XVI made the impromptu comments at the first meeting of the 244 fathers of the Synod of the Word of God. He said that the morning's Bible readings had inspired him.The Holy Father, who has criticised materialism in secular societies repeatedly this year, drew a parallel between the economy and the parable of the wise man who builds his house upon the rock and the fool who builds his on the sand.
He said: "We should change our idea that matter, solid things we touch, are the most solid and secure reality.
He who builds only on things that are visible and tangible on success, a career, money; he is building on the sand. Apparently these are the true realities, but one day they will pass away. And in this way, all these things that do not have a true reality to count on... he who builds his house on these realities, on material things, on success, on everything that seems to be, builds on sand. Only the Word of God is the foundation of all reality; it is stable like the heavens and more than the heavens. It is the reality. Therefore we should change our concept of realism. The realist is he who recognises in the Word of God, in this reality apparently so fragile, the basis of everything."
The president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications Archbishop Claudio Celli told the press afterwards that the Holy Father was pointing out how flimsy the material world was compared to the Word of God.
Comments
I missed mass for three consecutive months, before returning to my church this evening. I recently moved, struggled to find work, and was laid off soon after starting. I only stopped attending mass, praying, and reading my new testament when I began to frantically search for part time work to meet my financial needs and to provide myself with health care coverage. I hope that God forgives my lapse in faith, and that our conversation can begin again now that I have gotten myself away from the danger of eviction and permanent debt to banks. From my now somewhat more secure position, I've found myself blessed with time to try to re-start my career so that I can make more meaningful contributions to my community, a priest that has allowed me to take confirmation classes on my one day off, and a Church openly warning individuals like me of the judgments that society will level on people who are struggling. Thank you for continued inspiration and clarity from one of the many people who found themselves left out of the economy's "good graces."
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