Have you ever considered what name you’d choose if were selected to be Pope? I have, in the unlikely event that it might happen, and just because it’s fun. I’d be Pope Julian after Julian of Norwich, which is a delightful coincidence as it was Mother Julian’s feast day on Thursday when Pope Leo was selected.
Did you enjoy Pope-Watch? I’m not going to lie, I loved it – the drama, the ritual and the history of it all, but the hope was beautiful as well- the hopeful expectations of millions of people.
Mother Julian’s words were in my head as I thought about what kind of man might be appointed to be the world’s most visible Christian. “All shall be well and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well” I told myself as I waited for the announcement, trusting that the conclave were trusting in the Holy Spirit to guide them.
I was a huge admirer of Pope Francis, and my hope was that the person selected will continue his work. I think, from what I’ve read, that Pope Leo will continue in the spirit of Pope Francis, bringing Jesus’ teaching back to the heart of such a public ministry, focusing on people, on love, on social justice and inclusion. Previously he’s called out power imbalances and misuse or misrepresentation of Jesus’ teaching. It Feels rather Jesus-like I think.
Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, our readings are filled with pastoral imagery of God, of Jesus and of ourselves as the flock. As a minister we too believe we have a shepherding role to play, and I’m sure Pope Leo is feeling the weight of this as he leads the Sunday Mass today.
You may have seen the wonderful Series “The Chosen”, which tells the story of Jesus’ life and ministry from leaving the wilderness up until, at the end of the 4th series, entering Jerusalem in triumph. The 5th series is released next month and focuses on Holy Week. I can’t recommend it enough; it brings the gospels to life in a way nothing else I’ve seen or read has.
During the 4th series we see the scene from today’s gospel taking place on the temple steps, and it results in Jesus and the disciples being the victims of an attempted stoning by the Pharisees who are calling Jesus out, appalled at what they call blasphemy. James is quite badly injured and they’re forced to retreat to their lodging house. And they’re scared.
After this, the reality of how dangerous their ministry and mission is hits them, that whilst they all believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that that is wonderful, not everyone will believe, not everyone will hear and understand, and some may even be threatened to the point where they want to kill those bringing the message.
It’s a moment of hate and violence as a response to a message of love, and I think that’s still the way some people respond when confronted with the true message of Jesus’ teaching, where the poor, the orphaned, the widowed, the sick, the tax collectors, people with questionable pasts and those cast out through illness are all equally loved and held up in God’s eyes, and to do God’s work is to care for the sick, the prisoner, and the marginalised.
We’ll each have our own view of what a “real Christian” or “good Christian” looks like, but for me anyone who supports a gospel of exclusion, of any kind of hate, of supporting measures which harm those in poverty, those with disabilities, or children, or immigrants or any child of God hasn’t heard the shepherd’s voice.
And it can be difficult in this complicated world to discern God’s voice above everything else. I look for what feels loving or based in love, and a church leader using their voice for the lifting up of the most marginalised, the poorest and those most in need in our world feels like love to me.
There will always be those whose hearts are hardened to this, or who feel threatened by a teaching that causes us to examine or change our deepest held convictions. So I pray today for Pope Leo, I pray for his ministry, and I pray for all those who teach a Christianity that excludes or hates anyone, or who doesn’t feel it’s our job to actively care for those who are suffering the most. And I pray for all of us to be able to listen to, hear and follow the voice of our shepherd.
Amen.
John 10:22-30
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”
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