Today one of the major news organizations had a fluffy piece online about the Pope's wardrobe. Many of the comments offered the question as to the newsworthiness of the article (agreed) with many others defaming the Catholic Church. In many ways the popular culture does not know what to make of the Pope, the Church, or it's spirituality. Certainly it would seem logical that if a groups policies or practices was not liked by some, that the organization would change to make things agreeable for everyone. So many treat the Pope like a celebrity, and the Church like a multinational corporation. Neither comparison even comes close.
The daily reading today follow Jesus before his ascent into Jerusalem and the passion and crucifixion. There is a dialogue which occurs here between the religious leaders Jesus. Jesus challenges their hostility with their lack of understanding and faith in God. While they decry Jesus' assessment of the situation, Jesus counters with if they had faith, they would not be trying to kill him. Their violent tendencies comes from a lack of faith. Jesus invites them to 'come up higher' so as to know and appreciate the truth.
When we can come to understand what Jesus is about, and live by his teaching, we can come to know truth, and understand the role of the Church. We are less concerned about the vestments that the Pope wears, and are more concerned with servant leadership, stewardship, compassion, and peace. Saint Hugo of Saint Victor considers that our vison of faith should be so through the prism of truth. As such we discover the positive virtues of patience, kindness, compassion, love, thanksgiving, and care. To be sure this is the mission and ministry of Jesus, and certainly is of the Church.
Truth allows us to own the godliness that is properly ours and the good we have inherited through Jesus Christ. His words are to be possessed and pondered, not refuted. May the good God has begun in us be brought to completion.
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