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| St. Paul Preaching in Athens |
So today while I was in line at subway (which recently re-acquired a toaster - yay!), I heard the people behind me talking about their class and how it was really boring today, and nobody knew what the teacher was talking about, and then they said something interesting: "even the seminarians were looking out the windows". I guess I hadn't really thought about it, but as a seminarian, people are watching me, so when I doze off in class, or complain about the cafeteria, or get to class late people notice. This little comment reminded me that, whether I like it or not, I am a role model of sorts and I need to act like one. Now, I don't want to leave all the pressure on myself, so I'm going to point out that on a larger level the world is watching Catholics in general to see how they live their lives. Whether we like it or not, we are held to a higher standard in the public's eye. If we are who we say we are (the true Church started by Christ, with the Sacraments, and the True Presence, etc.), we need to live like it. Catholics on a whole, not just seminarians, need to set an example as to how people should really live. Want to convert the world? Show them that we are a people truly transformed by Christ; the early church did it and look where it got them!
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| Archbishop Bergoglio before becoming Pope Francis |
It has just been announced that Pope Francis, instead of celebrating the start of the Triduum, the Mass of the Lord's Supper (Holy Thursday), at St. Peter's Basilica, will continue a practice he began as bishop in Buenos Aires and celebrate it at a prison. In this case, the pope will wash the feet of twelve of the inmates at Casal del Marmo, a juvenile prison in Rome.
I think his tweet (from Tuesday gives us the reason for this.
"True power is service. The Pope must serve all people, especially the poor, the weak, the vulnerable."
Pope Francis, I believe, is taking the virtue of humility, seen so clearly in his predecessors, John Paul, who let the world watch the young, vibrant, athlete slowly succumb to Parkinson's disease, and Benedict, who acknowledged to the world that he wasn't strong enough, to a new height. This humility, as all virtues must be, is motivated by love, by charity. Obviously, the perfect example of humility is Our Lord, who became one of his creation, and why did Jesus do this? Love. Pray for Pope Francis that he can continue to show the world what it means to be a disciple of Christ, through his example. I can't help but notice that Pope Francis is taking St. Francis's words "Preach the gospel at all times - If necessary, use words" to heart. As Christians, we must always be conscious of the example we are giving to others. Are we acting like Christ? The slogan "What would Jesus Do?" is kind of laughed at, but that is exactly how we need to live - like Our Lord. Keep up the good Lent!
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