There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
...that is the question. Unless you have recently been severely deprived of all means of social media, you must know that the Pope visited the USA in the past month, and more locally, Philadelphia several weekends ago. Using any qualification, this was a momentous occasion. My friend asked me if I wanted to go to see the Pope. She is not Catholic but she was accompanying a friend of hers who is an ardent Catholic and so these two ladies thought I might want to join them on their Saturday sojourn. My immediate answer was firm but polite: "I’m sorry but I am too busy". There were other reasons too: I do not like huge crowds and the nonsense that is associated with them. It would bother me if they did not have enough Port-o-johns, and illogical traffic detours just plain piss me off. I have little patience for multiple security checks so that my predictable verbal complaints would probably result in being slammed face-first into the pavement by burly police officers.
However, upon further consideration, I had second thoughts; "Hey, this is a Happening and what is life without attending a few Happenings now and then? " It might be a profound enlightenment (and very cool) to be among a crowd that is theoretically all trying to love one another under the same purpose (This harkens back to my longing to have attended Woodstock but since I was a mere babe of 14 at the time, I missed the opportunity). I know from my visit to New Orleans in 2009 with the Lutheran Youth Gathering that it is an extraordinary experience to praise God with tens of thousands of other believers. To share those beliefs and apply them in a concerted effort is a powerful event.
But shared beliefs - Ah, there's the rub. My presence to see the Pope would have been my very own miniature ecumenical engagement. We share many Christian ideals with our Catholic brethren but we also divert strongly in doctrine to the point where sometimes I emit a small wince, but during his visit, the Pope had many wonderful things to say that evoked the Christian truth to a wide variety of people, and as fellow Christians, we should rejoice in that exposition. He is a man of the people and is perfectly willing to shed some of the preconceptions of what a religious dignitary should be. He is good and humble man who deserves our prayers. Although I believe that in God's eyes, ultimately his importance as a Christian is no greater than yours or mine, I also believe his final resting place is the same as ours no matter what. Together let's praise the God who gave us Jesus and let grace abound as we put our differences aside. As the Rolling Stones said, "It ain’t no hangin' matter. It’s no capital crime".
With regards to actually visiting the Pope, I stayed at home and worked outside and painted walls and moved my furniture... so that by the end of the day, I was too pooped to Pope, but I praise God for those who felt it important enough to make the trek.
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 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. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 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. John 17:20-23
Dear Heavenly Father, let grace abound. Help us to extend love to all our Christian brethren and embrace the similarities that exist among us. Our solidarity is our strength so let it feed our zeal for the good news of Jesus. Amen.
Contributed by Donald
Monday October 05 2015
Liturgical Year B: Week 45
Liturgical Color: Green
Sunday Gospel reading: Proper22
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost