"What we need to consider is the value that we put on money: it
cannot become our absolute and chief purpose in life. Attachment to money prevents us from
seeing everyday life with realism; it clouds our gaze and blinds us to the needs of others. Nothing
worse could happen to a Christian and to a community than to be dazzled by the idol of wealth,
which ends up chaining us to an ephemeral and bankrupt vision of life." (Pope Francis - Message for World Day of the Poor, 2022)
Last week, it was my great honour and privilege to visit a rehabilitation centre for males suffering addictions, run by the church. I went there, with my two travelling companions, where we were treated royally by the young, male residents, who happily shared their talents with a musical performance. The whole experience touched me, for here were men being torn apart by the pain and emptiness of their addiction, but not being held back in reaching out to us, welcoming us, entertaining us. Their kindness brought a tear to my eye. Their actions told me that, in the midst of despair, lives hope.
We can too easily be overcome by what weighs us down, addiction is one such weight. Reading Francis' message, I think of wealth as another weight. Wealth is not bad in itself, but, if abused, it can also weigh us down, oppressing us, making us into who we are not meant to be. Wealth, power, addiction, anger - the list can go on - can blind us to the simple goodness and joys of life. In Proverbs, we read that the people without a vision will perish.
Let us not perish, blinded by despair or all that does not reallly matter. Let us focus rather on what matters in life, that we are all together in this world and can act ogether to make life and our world so much better, so joyous. Why don't we?
Maybe, we are too easily weighed down by the woes of the world and life. Instead, let us keep our eye on the Christian Project, which is based on human optimism. Its message is clear. Let us not be dazzled by what is false.
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