“We Have a Pope and he is American!” How many times have you heard or read that these past few days? But how does that affect your life? When all the excitement is over will things be the same old, same old? I wonder if that is how the Apostles felt after the Resurrection. Jesus was back and all would be well. Even though he told them He needed to go to the Father. After the Ascension and Pentecost, they could have gone back to their old lives.
BUT they were filled with the Spirit and knew the word needed to be spread. You can’t keep ‘Good News’ to yourself. It needs to be shared. These past few weeks we have been hearing how they reached out to the Jews and when there was a resistance, they moved on to the Gentiles who wanted to listen and learn. The beginning years were difficult for the apostles, and yet they continued. The spirit and the support of each other kept them going.
Getting back to Pope Leo XIV, I can’t imagine what he is experiencing but he gave that solemn ‘Yes’ like the popes before him and like the ‘Yes’ of Mary. His challenges are just as difficult as those of the apostles. And yet he urges us to move forward. And to include everyone on the journey. The more I think about it the more I wonder how he will respond to all that is presented to him, all that will demand his time, knowledge, and spirit.
How does this election affect you and your day-to-day living? Where are you at during this season before Pentecost? Will you allow the Holy Spirit to fill you so much that you are ready to live the passionate life of Christ that He desires of us? Will you be His hands and raise people up? Will you be His feet by walking with those who are experiencing difficult times? There is no heart or smile but yours, so will you bring the spirit of love and compassion to those who have been disregarded as unworthy? Will your arms embrace everyone?
I don’t have the answers, but Pope Leo XIV can’t do all that will be asked of him by himself. He will need our support through prayer and a renewed sense of just what it means to have been Baptized into this Catholic Faith, this Royal Family. Jeus came so we could have life and life to the fullest. May your life and week be filled with God’s love!
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
