RBWords - Volume 28 - Number 9: September 2015
Something to Think About
R. B. WORDS - VOLUME 28 - NUMBER 9 - SEPTEMBER 2015
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT -
The visit of Pope Francis to the U.S.A. has given us all something to think about, no matter at which level we connected with the events. I am not much of a TV watcher, but I tried to watch as much of the coverage as I could. Given the logistical challenges, it is amazing that everything went as well as it did at all venues. The network commentators continually marveled that a 78 year old man with one lung and bad sciatica could keep the schedule of events that Pope Francis did. I found myself praying constantly for his health and safety.
Of course the significance of the visit will be subject to various interpretations and the long range impact remains to be seen. The address to Congress was amazing, but I enjoyed the comment of a Protestant reporter who said, "When your grandmother comes downstairs and tells the kids to be nice to one another and share the toys, does that make her a socialist?" The Pope certainly did not address every single agenda that various groups and interests would have wished he had. His personal impact, however, was enormous. At a parish where I heard confessions right after he left, I was told the reason the person came to the sacrament was because of Pope Francis! That is the kind of influence that makes a difference, no matter what his words on this or that subject may have been.
I recommend reading his various addresses now without all the attendant publicity so that his teaching can have an impact. I am sure they will give you SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
It Has Been Said
"I don't know if I had success, no. But I am afraid of myself. Why am I afraid of myself? I feel always - I don't know - weak in the sense of not having power, and also power is a fleeting thing, here today, gone tomorrow. It's important if you can do good with power. And Jesus defined power, the true power is to serve, to do service, to do the most humble services,and I must still make progress on this path of service because I feel I don't do everything I should do. That's the sense I have of power."
Pope Francis, in response to a question on the flight back to Rome