Like many of you I have had mixed emotions about the
resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.
I am caught between sadness of seeing our Holy retire and the excitement
of wondering whom the next pope will be.
I have watched Fr. Rich who looks like a kid in a candy store as we are
in unprecedented times with respect to papal history. The last time this happened was 600 years ago! There are all sorts of theological
questions that theologians will discuss for years to come. For instance, what do we call Pope
Benedict XVI after he retires? How
can we have a retired pope who is still alive when there can only be one pope
at a time?
Among
all the unknowns, I know for certain that Benedict XVI will continue to pray
for the Church. In fact, this was
the last thing he said when he announced his retirement. And I don’t think it is an accident
that the Holy Father chose the season of Lent to step down.
Our
first reading today is also providential.
We are reminded that the entire cosmos was created by our good and
loving God. At the culmination of
His creation He made man and woman in His own image and likeness. He made us very good.
Yet
we know the next chapter in our history—we sinned. And we continue to sin.
Lent
is the season to confront and to combat our sin head on. The word Lent actually means spring, and it is the time to experience
newness of life from our sinful nature.
On
the brink of Lent we pray for our Holy Father and trust in his prayers for
us. We pray for our next Pope,
that he may be a holy man to lead our Church universal. And we pray for the grace to be renewed
in our own lives and free from sin.
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