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Avoiding the Temptation of Worldliness: A Call to Seek Jesus for True Transformation

In his teachings, Pope Francis often warns Christians of the subtle temptation to slip toward worldliness and power, a temptation that leads many to seek Jesus only to fulfill material desires. This is not just a concern for the distant past—it is a daily temptation for all of us who make up the Church. The pope’s reflections on this issue are grounded in the Gospel account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (John 6:22-29), where the crowd seeks Jesus, not out of religious awe or devotion, but for their own material benefit.

Pope Francis explains that, just like the people in the Gospel, many of us may be drawn to Jesus for the wrong reasons. We might be looking for solutions to our immediate problems, seeking His help in the hope of receiving material blessings or relief from our struggles. However, when we approach Jesus with such a mindset, we risk missing the deeper, transformative message of the Gospel.

Seeking Jesus for Transformation, Not for Gain

The pope warns that when we try to profit from following Jesus, we obscure His true mission. Throughout the Gospels, we see that Jesus consistently calls His followers to focus on spiritual matters, not material wealth or status. He invites us to be transformed, not simply to receive what we want. Even among His apostles, we see the temptation of worldliness. The sons of Zebedee, for example, wanted positions of power—aspiring to be prime ministers and finance ministers. In doing so, they lost sight of the true purpose of Jesus' mission: to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, to recover sight for the blind, and to set the oppressed free.

This shift from seeking the eternal to seeking power is dangerous. It dilutes the Gospel’s message and turns it into a tool for personal gain. The fervor to spread the Good News becomes overshadowed by ambitions for worldly recognition. The pope cautions that we must guard against this temptation, because it leads us away from the essence of the Gospel.

Living with Eternal Focus

To live as true followers of Christ, we must continually examine our motives. Are we following Him because we seek a closer relationship with God and a deeper transformation of our hearts? Or are we simply looking for what Jesus can give us in the material world? We must keep our focus on the eternal—on the ultimate goal of living with God in Paradise. This is the destination that gives our lives true meaning.

It’s easy to become distracted by the allure of worldly success, to desire to be like the Sons of Zebedee, wanting to be seen, known, and admired. However, this only leads to emptiness and an insatiable hunger for more. The spotlight shifts from Jesus and His mission to our own egos. We must instead strive to live humbly, focusing on bringing the Good News to those around us without seeking recognition for ourselves.

The Example of Saint Joseph: Humble and Powerful

In contrast to the worldly ambitions of the sons of Zebedee, we can look to the example of Saint Joseph. Joseph’s life was one of silent, faithful service, yet he is revered as the “Terror of Demons.” His spiritual power came from his unwavering commitment to doing the Lord’s work without seeking any recognition or personal gain. He was a model of humility, and his example reminds us that true spiritual power is found not in the spotlight, but in humble, unseen service to God and His people.

Saint Joseph’s quiet strength is a stark contrast to the desire for power and prestige that can so easily creep into our hearts. His life challenges us to reconsider our motives in following Jesus. Are we seeking to be transformed into His image, or are we more focused on what we can gain from Him?

Conclusion

Seeking Jesus only for personal gain clouds the true purpose of His mission and leads us away from transformation. We must seek Him with the intention of being changed—of growing in holiness and helping others do the same. The true path of discipleship is not about power, fame, or worldly success, but about following Jesus for the sake of the eternal and the transformation of our hearts. Let us look to Saint Joseph as a model of silent, humble strength and remember that true power comes from faithfully doing the work of the Lord, without seeking any glory for ourselves.

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