Responsibility

Introduction about Responsibility
The Pope speaks about an important point in present life and before God and in eternity: it is responsibility. Every person’s existence is not in vain, and his life and what is in it of talents and weights are considered a responsibility before God.

The Nature of Responsibility and Its Fields
He clarifies that every right is met by a duty, and every gift has a responsibility. Responsibilities appear in the individual, family, society, school, media, state, and the church, and they differ according to a person’s position and authority.

Talents and Their Use
Talents, intelligence and knowledge are not for pride or glory but are weights to be accounted for. Whoever God gave understanding or ability must use it for good and for the benefit of others, because the one who knows more is demanded more.

Family Responsibility and Upbringing
Marriage is not merely a social relation but a responsibility; the spouses are responsible for making each other happy and for raising children spiritually and behaviorally, and the mother is the child’s first school. Education should not be left only to institutions but to the parents themselves.

Responsibility of the Church, Teachers and Servants
School, priests and Sunday school servants and others are responsible not only for teaching information but for providing a spiritual example. Episcopacy and priesthood are responsibilities before God, not empty honors, and pastors are responsible for shepherding the people, visiting the sick and solving people’s problems.

Individual Initiative and Work on the Road
He emphasizes the importance of individual work: that a person does good on the road, and he points to examples from Scripture and history (Polycarp, Paul, Anba Anthony) who bore fruit by their presence. One should not wait for formalities but do the work practically and in love.

Kinds of Good and How They Are Offered
Good can be material, psychological or spiritual. It is not enough to comfort people psychologically if that leads them away from repentance; what is required is spiritual comfort that leads to God. The proper use of talents, time, money and love is the essence of responsibility.

Outcome and Reward
Responsibility may be tiring and may face resistance and opposition, but it is rewarded by God. The Lord helps the workers and preserves them and places His mercy and help with them, and whoever works diligently will be given his reward according to his labor.

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