Pope Benedict XVI will be stepping down at the end of
February leaving the Pontiff position open.
The Cardinals will gather together in secret while the world will wait
and watch for the rising smoke that signifies a new Pope. With the Vatican's various missteps in
theology, scandal, and unawareness make me wonder if this new appointment will
even matter.
In Mathew 16 Jesus gives Peter the keys to the Kingdom of
Heaven. This is the reason for the Peterine
Pontiff. A careful reading shows that
Jesus most likely did not give Peter himself the keys, but all his disciples. If we read it where Jesus gives such
responsibility to all his gathered disciples, than would this key not be copied
and handed down to all disciples of Jesus?
Jesus wanted to let Peter and his disciples know that what
they did on earth mattered. The message
of forgiveness, healing, and God's love was theirs to share. They were given a message that invited people
to a new life, a whole life, an eternal life.
The key was not for the disciples and Peter to hold people spiritually
captive. The Vatican, however, has
become a city built for its own purposes.
The hat, the shoes, the clothes have removed the simple and powerful
message from the broken and moved to the halls of decadence and
indifference.
Jesus, Peter, and his disciple did not sit upon thrones
removed from the dirtiness of life.
Jesus washed feet, touched those with infectious skin diseases, stayed
in the homes of greedy tax thieves, spoke and showed true love to prostitutes, slept
in boats in the middle of storms, laid his head on rocks, and died on the cross. Is the Pope not to be this example?
Unfortunately I do not see the Vatican being serious about
the message of Jesus. If the Cardinals,
and Bishops, and Vatican royalty were authentic about the life giving message
of Jesus our Christ, they would abdicate all their power, wealth, comfort, and
position.
There are so many priests, pastors, and preachers who have
given up so much only to have their message of good news to the poor, weak,
sad, and imprisoned corrupted by the lie lived by the Pontiff.
The truth is the Kingdom of God invites us to join the
advancing ranks of God's love and forgiveness.
However, we cannot serve two masters, nor can we serve two
Kingdoms. We cannot serve God and money,
God and pride, God and fame, God and Vatican, God and Republicans, Democrats,
Tea Party, or any other. God invites us
to empty ourselves of any desire for power, money, and influence exemplified by
the Vatican so that God can fill us with hope, peace, and joy.
Therefore let us not sit and wait idly why another Kingdom
elects its leader. The truth is we have
been given the Keys to another Kingdom.
While many other places may keep us locked out Christ not only invites
us in, but he gives us keys. Let us be
active in using those keys to invite others into the ever expanding loving
Kingdom of God.
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