The bribe, a worldly habit

Pope Francis once again showed his concern for young people and children by offering a very special prayer for those who receive what he called « dirty bread ». In the homily of the morning Mass celebrated in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, the Pope thus denounced gains obtained through bribes and corruption, affirming that these young people hunger for dignity because dishonest work strips away all dignity.

Starting from the parable of the shrewd steward, the Pope returned to the theme of worldliness, of how it operates and how dangerous it is. « When we think of our enemies, it is true that we first think of the devil, because that is truly what harms us.

The atmosphere, the lifestyle that so pleases the devil is this worldliness: living according to the values -in quotation marks- of the world. And this steward is an example of worldliness. One of you might say: « But this man did what everyone does! » But not everyone, no! Some administrators, company administrators, public administrators, some government administrators, there may not be many of them, but it is a bit of that behavior of the shortest, most comfortable way to earn a living. »

The bribe, a worldly habit

In the parable, the Pope praises the shrewd steward for his cunning: « And yes, it is a praise of the bribe! And the habit of the bribe is a worldly and deeply sinful habit. It is a habit that does not come from God: God commanded us to bring bread home through our honest work. And this man, this steward, brought it home, but how? He gave « dirty bread » to his children to eat. And his children, educated perhaps in costly schools, raised perhaps in a cultured environment, received from their papa, as a dish, filth, because their papa, in bringing « dirty bread » home, had lost his dignity! And that is a grave sin! Because you may begin with a small envelope, but it is like a drug! »

That is why the Pope invited the faithful to pray for all the children who receive « dirty bread » from their parents: « they too are hungry, hungry for dignity! Pray that the Lord may change the hearts of these faithful of the bribe and that they may realize that dignity comes from worthy work, from honest work, from everyday work, and not from those easier paths that in the end take everything from you. »

Vatican Radio

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