There are numerous articles written about Pope Francis from different perspectives on the 10th anniversary of his pontific. He certainly is different from his immediate predecessors, Benedict XVI and Saint John Paul II. Some complain that he does not lay down the law, I’m exaggerating, when people go off the rails. Others rejoice when he seems to be inviting all and everyone to the table. Although I am not one to claim to see things clearly, I wonder what standard or criteria is being used for those who put so many words on paper, or online, to judge our current Holy Father?
I think a distinction needs to be made here. To judge or critique someone is a very tricky and a very dangerous proposition. I doubt that many really mean to do this. They might rather say, “Boy, I wish the Holy Father would bring this out about this or that, or in his comments would clarify this about so and so.” Or “Doesn’t the Holy Father know he is causing confusion (to me and many others) by not saying what needs to be said?” In other words, “Why doesn’t the Holy Father do things the way I think he needs to?”
We only need to look at the many instances in the gospels where the leaders of the Jewish people, and even the disciples themselves, said the very same thing. If we were to reread the Gospels from the standpoint of the disciples, trying to figure out why Jesus did so many things that were confusing, or seemingly against the law, it might help us to reflect more and speak less about what God may be doing through Pope Francis. The example of this past Sunday’s Gospel of The Woman at the Well, is an excellent example. “They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but none said, ‘What do you wish’ or, ‘Why are you talking with her?’”
One primary reason I think this is so common is because of our weak and fallen human nature. I can attest to this myself – I am my own example for bringing this out. Over the past 50 or so years, I have studied, reflected upon, and tried to follow Christ and spread His message to all who will listen. During that time, I have learned much through study, prayer, and ministry. However, what happens below the surface is a tallying of all this work and effort. My ego – my pride – has kept tabs on this progress. Spiritual pride is very difficult to detect, I am continually reminded of this defect in myself. It is painful to accept this in ourselves and impossible to overcome without God’s purifying grace. In thinking of this recently, I was reminded of the passage from Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord required of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”