Who Pope Francis was to me...

 

 Francis' first appearance as Pope, March 13, 2013 

Of the 7 popes I've known in my lifetime, my deepest kinship was with Francis.  His approach to people is the one I feel most at home with in my own ministry.  Francis met people with no preset agenda, expectations or ulterior motives: he simply met you where you are.  He did not come expecting you to fit some one-size-fits-all mold, much less did he judge you for being of some other form, shape or design.  He met you where you are, as you are - and he loved the person he met - right there, in the moment.  He did this in his personal encounters, in his preaching, in his teaching and in how he governed the Church.

 

It's clear to me from the gospel that this is just how Jesus approached people and it's also clear that this is how the Father whom Jesus reveals meets each one of us.  The Lord always welcomes us with kindness and with a deep understanding of how and why you and I are in such great need of the loving, patient mercy he's always ready to offer us.

 

Now, for sure, in my own ministry I've often botched this. In spite of my best intentions and desires I've too many times been critical, aloof, demanding, judgmental, impatient and unkind.  But I know better - and Francis often reminded me of that in his words and deeds, in how he approached the people of God.  Was Francis himself perfect in this regard? No, he was not. In fact, he often described himself as "a sinner whom God has looked upon with mercy." 

 

Francis' ministry has been a model for my own - and I believe his way of teaching, preaching and touching peoples' lives is a model of the whole Church.  I will miss seeing and hearing - witnessing - how this servant of God was a shepherd to his people.  May the Holy Spirit inspire the conclave to elect another man of such wisdom and mercy.

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

With all of this in mind, I looked back to see what I posted when Francis was elected pope. Here's what I found on my blog for March 13, 2013...

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

 

“I would like to thank you for your embrace,” said the new pope, dressed in white, speaking from the balcony as thousands of the faithful cheered joyously below. “My brother cardinals have chosen one who is from far away - but here I am...”

I know almost nothing about this man, our new pope, but I am heartened that the cardinals in conclave reached to the new world to choose the man to shepherd our Church.  I know nearly nothing else about him but I am taken by his first words:
"Here I am..."

 

A comes to mind (and it's not Here I Am).

 

Take, O Take Me As I Am by John Bell sung by Danville Congregational Church Chancel Choir 

If a video doesn't appear below, click here!

 

The first words of this new pope give us a man who finds himself in the moment, his heart open before God and his people: "Here I am."

This is a very good place to start and, indeed, it's the only place to begin.

So often, so many of us are stuck in our past or wishing for what is not yet. So often we avoid acceptance of the moment at hand, we fail to "keep it in today." I pray, with you, that the ministry of Pope Francis will remain open to every way the Holy Spirit comes to him and to all of us, the Church: just where we are, summoning out what we shall be, setting his seal upon our hearts and living within us.

So, let's pray for Pope Francis and for the Church...

Tweet   

SUBSCRIBE HERE!