Responsibility

14 March 19900 Comments

The lecture revolves around responsibility as a spiritual law that includes every human being in his personal life, his family, the Church, society, and before God. His Holiness the Pope emphasizes that a person was not created in vain, but was given talents, gifts, and abilities that he must invest in service and spiritual fruitfulness.

First: The concept of responsibility before God

The mere existence of the human being is a responsibility, for God gave him life to make it fruitful.
Every gift is a talent for which one will be asked: intelligence, knowledge, talents, time, money, and the love of people.
Responsibility is not honor or titles, but a trust and a weight before God.

Second: Responsibility in service and leadership

Every position in the Church is a responsibility before it is an honor, from the servant up to the patriarch.
God will ask each one: “Give me the account of your stewardship.”
Individual service is great work even if it has no official title, for much good is done “along the way.”

Third: Responsibility within the family

Marriage is a mutual responsibility between man and woman, not merely a social bond.
Both parents are responsible for raising their children spiritually, through teaching, training, and good example.
The first school for the child is his mother, then his father, before the Church and Sunday School.

Fourth: The responsibility of spiritual influence on others

A person is entrusted with everyone whom God places in his path, even if he is not officially responsible for them.
Like the Good Samaritan who did not let “formalities” stop him from doing good.
Whoever knows how to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Fifth: The dimensions of doing good

Good has three levels: material, psychological, and spiritual; and the highest is leading people to the Kingdom of God.
Comforting people psychologically without spiritual guidance may harm them.
Personal example may be the greatest means of influence.

Sixth: Spiritual models of responsibility

Saint Paul, Athanasius the Apostolic, and Saint Anthony: leaders who bore great responsibilities for the sake of truth and faith.
History remembers those who bear abundant fruit.

Spiritual conclusion

Responsibility is the path to fruit, and fruit is a person’s testimony before God.
Everything God gave you is a trust in your hands: use it for good, for service, and for the salvation of souls.
And every labor for the sake of responsibility will be rewarded by God manyfold.

For better translation support, please contact the center.