Word to the Wise
Sunday, May 4, 2025 - 3rd Sunday of Easter - C
[Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Rev 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 or 21:1-14]When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon Peter answered him "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to Simon Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." Jesus said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." [John]
Those of us who have entered rather definitely into "elderhood" can identify with Jesus' "Amen, amen..." statement quoted above. (I'm 82!). But there will be a more dramatic example soon. When one of the cardinals in the conclave is elected pope and leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, he is taken aside and his red robes are exchanged for the familiar white cassock and cap, the costume of the role of pope. He is then led to that balcony we all know from past conclaves and public appearances, and we will hear those Latin words, "HABEMUS PAPAM!" ("We have a pope!"). What kind of shepherd will we have? The various media have been in a frenzy, naming "favorites" and labeling various cardinals as "progressive" or "conservative." Fervent prayers of various "interest groups" are being directed at the Holy Spirit who will no doubt find a lot of clear air turbulence to fly in as a result!
Jesus' charge to Peter remains the task, no matter who is elected. The new pope will have that task: to "feed" and "tend" the flock. Pope Francis' image of the shepherd as one who leads from the front, the middle and the back is a powerful one and captures Jesus' challenge very well. Another part of Pope Francis' image is that the shepherd should have "the smell of the sheep," which he (Pope Francis) certainly exemplified. An isolated, antiseptic ruler would not fill the bill. Neither will yelling decrees from a book on how to be a sheep get the job done! And, of course, those who love conspiracy before the conclave will be dissecting the conclave afterwards!
When all is said and done, the conclave is the work of the Holy Spirit incarnated in the voters in the room. If we reduce it to politics and conspiracy, we are missing the point! Jesus' question is not only directed to Peter, but to us as well! AMEN