Lima, Peru, Sep 21, 2010 / 09:50 am
During Mass on Sunday, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani of Lima called on the faithful to set aside “material values” and live according to “the values that bring us closer to God.”
During his homily at the Cathedral of Lima, the cardinal noted that one cannot serve two masters. He explained that it is up to each person to choose the Lord and all that He represents, or to follow false gods and cut off his or her relationship with the one, true God.
“Either choose God: honesty, the 10 commandments, the truth, the family, life, generosity, justice, dignity and honor; or make your own gods: the god of money, of power, of fame, of sex of drugs. If there are many gods, there is no one true God,” he said.
He encouraged the faithful to practice the moral virtues in family life, at work and in thought and deed. The cardinal also called for the respect of the home as the primary place of education for children and for the respect of the human body.
“We cannot prioritize material values and forget the spiritual ones. We cannot forget about God, Jesus Christ, the Church, the commandments and the sacraments. We must not forget all these obligations,” the cardinal said.
He concluded by praying that the Blessed Virgin Mary would help the faithful to be fearless in proclaiming the faith through their daily works.