VATICAN - The Pope’s weekly teaching at the general audience: “Profound obtuseness takes hold of man when he thinks he can avoid death by frantically accumulating material wealth”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - During his weekly audience in St Peter’s Square this morning the Pope focused his teaching on Psalm 48 “Vanity of riches” (vespers week 2). The principle message of this poetic composition can be summarised in a sort of proverb: “in prosperity man does not understand he is like animals which perish”. In other words the Pope explained, “vast wealth is not an advantage, indeed it is better to be poor and be one with God...profound obtuseness takes hold of man when he thinks he can escape death by frantically accumulating material wealth”. “This theme, explored by all cultures and forms of spirituality, is expressed substantially and definitively by Jesus when he says: «"Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions » (Lk 12,15)”.
The first part of the Psalm dwells on the rich man’s illusion that he can “ransom” his life, but “however great the sum he is ready to offer, his ultimate destiny is inexorable. In fact like all men and women, rich or poor, wise or foolish, he will go to his grave as even the powerful and will leave on earth all the gold he loved so dearly, the material goods he adored.”
“Jesus poses this disquieting question to the people around him: «What can man give in exchange for his soul?» (Mt 16,26). Nothing because life is a gift from God who «holds the soul of every living person and the breath of every human flesh in his hand» (Job 12,10)”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/10/2004 - Righe 19; Parole 280)