While sitting here reflecting on the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI(a man who dared to break tradition by stepping down from the highest position in the Catholic church), one can imagine the mental and spiritual wrestling that took place behind the scenes before his decision. He decided to evolve past tradition and take on a new course(might as well be new, last time it happened was over 600 yrs. ago), a course that has directly impacted over a billion people. Does God require a Pope to stay on until death? No mention of it in the bible. He did what he felt he needed to do despite how difficult it was. You have to admire and respect that in a person whether you support their decision or not.
Another Catholic, Britain’s most senior Catholic Cardinal Keith O’Brien, made news recently by saying that Catholic priests should be allowed to get married and raise a family.
Although the Cardinal is in the midst of scandal, he boldly spoke against tradition when he said the requirement for priestly celibacy is “not of divine origin” and could be reconsidered. He told the BBC that “the celibacy of the clergy, whether priests should marry – Jesus didn’t say that.”
He also said that “many priests have found it very difficult to cope with celibacy,” and while he had never considered marriage himself, “I would be very happy if others had the opportunity of considering whether or not they could or should get married.” –Huff Post Religion
Two men, on their personal journey to know and serve God, took action or spoke out against traditional practices that most have never considered. Which one is right? Which one is wrong? Is it possible that they are both right in their journey with God? Can the ways of God be contained in one man, two? Can He be contained in one family, how about one denomination, state, or nation? Is there anything manmade or created that can contain the “Ancient of Days”?
(ESV) 2 Chronicles 2:6
But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him?
Last but not least, a third Catholic leader is evolving while on his personal and public journey with God. Jorge Bergoglio has just made history. He has been chosen as the first non-European pope of the modern era. Not only that, he is the first Latino, the first Jesuit and the first to assume the name Francis.
CNN reports that “the new pope then quickly made another kind of history, breaking with tradition in his first public act before the 150,000 people packed into St. Peter’s Square. Rather than bless the crowd first, he asked them to pray for him.
“Let us say this prayer, your prayer for me, in silence,” he told the cheering crowd.
The willingness by Francis to dispense with tradition was interpreted by a Vatican spokesman as a sign he will be willing to chart his own path in other ways.
“We have a pope who probably upset some people tonight by not following the formula,” the Rev. Tom Rosica said.
The pontiff also broke with another tradition by refusing to use a platform to elevate himself above the cardinals standing with him as he was introduced to the world as Pope Francis.
“He said I’ll stay down here,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York and the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “He met each of us on our own level.”—CNN
The new Pope seems to have an unprecedented humility. Not only does he have a heart for the poor, which is where God’s heart is, but he lives with the poor, bypassing the privileges that a man in his position could have easily indulged in. Our Lord Jesus set the example, although being the sustainer and creator of all life, He came to this earth born in a lowly stable. The new Pope seems set on evolving the Catholic church to walk on a more scriptural path.
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Adam Boatz Laughing__Man • a day ago −
Hmmmm…I don’t think birth control is necessarily the most pressing issue when it comes to religion and relevancy in the 21st century.
Considering the strife around the world, much of it coming from the poor rebelling against the wealthy (in all forms), a Pope that speaks on behalf of the poor and is concerned with their plight would go a long way toward reinvigorating the Church.
I’m agnostic, and don’t agree with much in the Catholic Church including its stance on birth control…but I’d much rather a Pope who’s against birth control but in favor of worker’s rights, and the rights and respects of those less well off, than a Pope who’s in favor of birth control and continuing the business as usual aspect of promoting the Church to the wealthy and ignoring those who need help the most.
We need to pray for these men and their faith. They may have an impact on Catholicism evolving in the same vein that Martin Luther, as led by the Holy Spirit, had on evolving the church to the great Protestant Reformation.
Questions we need to ask on this evolving journey with God is–What is more true?–What is more Godly?–What should I embrace?–What should I let go?–What is bearing fruit?–What isn’t? We come into this old world and our wonderful journey starts. And yet, we are but a mist, here today and gone tomorrow. In this short time on this planet we must find our way. On our journey we may find that certain conditions and traits are far more desirable and superior to others. We may find that good is more desirable than evil–truth more so than lies– love more than hate–giving more so than taking–peace far greater than strife–forgiveness more so than bitterness–mercy more than wrath. Although we know right from wrong, without fail, on this journey we find ourselves trapped in wrong.
A wonderful man walked the earth who split in two mankind’s tumultuous history. He impacted the world like never before or since. He did well documented miracles and precisely told of things to come. He said and proclaimed that He is the embodiment of all these desirable conditions and traits in the previously mentioned paragraph. He said that HE is good and THE truth. He said He is love. He said He is the GIFT of life. He said He IS the Prince of Peace. He said HE is the sacrifice for our forgiveness. Jesus, God in the flesh, the way, the truth, and the life, are all these traits personified and far more. Those who call upon His holy name will be saved from all past and future wrongs. This wonderful Jesus also prayed this profound prayer for all of His children:
(ESV)John 17:20-23
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
He prayed that we would be one with Him and each other. Let those who are in Christ, born of the Spirit, just like these Catholic leaders, evolve and lay aside our petty differences with each other. Let us gather around the King of kings until we all love and walk as Catholics as defined here–
cath·o·lic
b. Of or relating to the universal Christian church. TheFreeDictionary—