What’s on the pope’s mind
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- April
- 1
I’m just catching up with a fine “papal preview” by John Thavis of Catholic News Service, who says that the pope’s Palm Sunday sermon may give a good sense of what he’ll say in the U.S.
He writes:
Naturally, the pope will tailor his U.S. talks to specific audiences, including educators, priests and seminarians, young people and bishops.
But rather than a laundry list of specific problems and solutions, his listeners in Washington and New York are apt to hear carefully reasoned arguments about the foundational values of Christianity.
On Palm Sunday, the pope posed a blunt question, one that caught people’s attention: “Is our faith pure and open enough?”
More questions quickly followed: Is the faith of today’s Christians pure enough to attract other spiritual seekers? Do modern Christians recognize that “greed is idolatry,” and is this awareness reflected in their lifestyles? Are Christians willing to let their own lives be radically shaped by Christ?
The pope’s words echoed a famous Good Friday meditation he wrote in 2005, a few weeks before his election, when he acknowledged the failings of Christians and characterized the church as a boat “taking in water on every side.”
This call to self-examination in light of the Gospel is high on the pope’s pastoral agenda. It’s not about “Catholic identity” imposed from the outside, and it’s not about following rules; it’s about provoking people to reflect on what it means to follow Christ.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008 at 2:56 pm by Gary Stern.
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The world of religion, we don't have to tell you, is vast. The purpose of this blog is for Stern to note, flag and comment on some of the more interesting religious developments on the scene – weighty and quirky, somber and laughable, far away and just down the road. He won't interpret Scripture, take sides in conflicts or judge anyone. But he will take advantage of the journalist's license to observe.
