God loves every person and wants to help everyone discover their inherent value and dignity, especially those who feel unworthy or unappreciated, Pope Leo XIV said. Source: CNS.
“God wants to give his kingdom, that is, full, eternal and happy life, to everyone,” the Pope said yesterday as he held his weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square.
“And this is what Jesus does with us: he does not establish rankings, he gives all of himself to those who open their hearts to him,” the Pope said.
Pope Leo continued a series of talks focusing on Gospel parables that give hope, focusing on “The Workers in the Vineyard” in the Gospel of St Matthew (20:1-16), which reveals the equality of all the disciples in inheriting eternal life.
Pope Leo said it is “a story that fosters our hope,” because “at times we have the impression that we cannot find meaning for our lives: we feel useless, inadequate, just like the labourers who wait in the marketplace, waiting for someone to hire them to work.”
“The metaphor of the marketplace is very appropriate for our times, too, because the market is the place of business, where unfortunately even affection and dignity are bought and sold, in the attempt to earn something,” he said. “And when we do not feel appreciated, acknowledged, we risk selling ourselves to the first bidder.”
“Instead, the Lord reminds us that our life is worthy, and his wish is to help us discover this,” he said.
The Lord, represented by the owner of the vineyard in the parable, wants to establish a personal relationship with everyone he meets, and he repeatedly goes out looking for “those who are waiting to give meaning to their lives,” Pope Leo said.
FULL STORY
God wants to help people discover their worth, dignity, Pope says (By Carol Glatz, CNS)
