This time with Pope Francis is
draining me. We have had so much of an emotional ride since Benedict first
announced his abdication on FebruaryMarch11(half sleeping when I posted this)
and the many events that followed, right up to the election of Francis and the
many events that have and will follow. But, I could not help but notice how the
Lord is in the details. Let me explain.
I thought it was very significant that Benedict would abdicate
on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and like Bernadette, take up a life of
prayer for the Church. On the day of the election, a seagull would not leave
the chimney on the Sistine Chapel. It was as if nature was saying: “Come out
Holy Father Francis!.”
Yesterday, in his simple but eloquent homily, Pope Francis gave
the Church from the Cardinals on down a call to conversion. “Walk,” “build up,”
and confess.” Along with all of this, God’s timing for it all strikes again.
On the day of Pope Francis’ election, the first reading for the
Liturgy began: Thus says the LORD: “In a time of favor I answer
you, on the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and
given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages.” It is as if the
Lord heard the many prayers being offered for the Papal Conclave. We have all
been concerned with the reports of corruption in the Vatican and the many other
issues in the Church. The Lord appears to be announcing the “New Springtime of
Faith”.
The first reading for yesterday’s Mass again rang out a loud
note: ““Go down at once to your people whom you brought out of the land of
Egypt, for they have become depraved.” If this is not the call of a reformer
Pope, I don’t know what is.
And finally, the first reading for today’s Liturgy show us the
anger caused by those who are opposed to reform. “The wicked said among
themselves, thinking not aright: ‘Let us beset the just one, because he is
obnoxious to us.” We really need to pray for Pope Francis. His task is
great. His current actions seem to display a decisive plan to put an end to the
nonsense. The opening words of tomorrows 1st reading are: “I knew their plot
because the Lord informed me.”
God is now speaking in a powerful way! One would have to be
spiritually blind not to see it. Let us us unite in prayer and obedience to our
Holy Father, Francis as he works to “separate the weeds from the wheat.” It’s
going to be a rough ride folks, but we are on the side of Christ and “if God is
for us, who can be against.”
Ladies, I believe we have a God wink in todays election of our new Pope Francis I, chosen in honor of St Francis patron saint of animals. How many saw this picture while we were waiting for the white smoke to signal the election of our new Pope. The moderators, reporters and several sites were talking about this seagull that kept hanging around. Several people spoke about how it must have been a sign from God. I would hear that and think no, the Holy Spirit is a dove not a seagull. Yet here we are with with Francis I tonight. Patron saint of animals. I can see God sitting there smiling and saying I am going to show my children how I want them to live in solidarity with the poor, in unity with all of creation and working together with me to put my house back in order.
This common bird known by everyone the world over, message given in terms everyone can understand without words spoken aloud but to our hearts. Then out steps our new Pope, Francis, leading us in the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be; Universal prayers, and then he asks that we bless him! Yes I believe is was a definite God Wink.
This coming Sunday, is St Patrick's Day and IHM Associates gathering day in New Bern at 2 pm. Looking forward to seeing you there and just maybe talking about who are new Pope is.
