VATICAN (CNS): “The quest for personal prestige can become a spiritual illness, masquerading itself even behind good intentions,” Pope Francis said during his Angelus address at St. Peter’s Square on October 17.
The pope said that people must always question their real intentions and ask themselves, “Why am I carrying out this work, this responsibility? To offer service or rather to be recognised, praised and to receive compliments?”
Pope Francis said Jesus showed that greatness comes from serving others, opposing “worldly logic with his own: Instead of exalting yourself over others, get off your pedestal to serve them; instead of rising above others, be immersed in others’ lives.”
With so many people in need, especially wiht the Covid-19 pandemic, “seek to be immersed in service rather than to climb up for one’s own glory.” the pope said urged the gathered pilgrims.
The pope said that in day’s gospel reading, Jesus teaches his disciples that “true glory is not obtained by rising over others, but by experiencing the same baptism that he, Jesus, would receive just a little later in Jerusalem, that is, the cross.
Baptism means immersion, the pope said, and Jesus, through his passion, “immersed himself into death, offering his life to save us.”
“Therefore, his glory, the glory of God, is love that becomes service, not power that seeks to dominate,” he said.
People are always tempted to use everything, including relationships, “to feed our ambition, to climb the ladder of success, to reach important positions,” he said.
“Jesus asks us to immerse ourselves” compassionately in other people’s lives, Pope Francis said.
