Watching the Pope
13/05/15 05:23
We are pretty quick to talk of God’s judgment. Ours isn’t the first generation of faithful to invoke God’s name agains the powerful and elite. A few minutes with any of the biblical prophets will illustrate the the concept of God’s judgement has been with the faithful for a long time. Understanding God as the judge of all the people of the earth has long been a consolation to those who are powerless and downtrodden. Unable to obtain justice in this life they focus their faith on the belief that God has not forgotten their cries and that justice will come in what lies beyond death. Even if the rich and powerful have the ability to take away life itself, God’s judgment gets the final say.
You can find strains of those notions in sermons throughout the history of the church and echoes of the threat of God’s judgment in contemporary sermons as well. Yesterday, Pope Francis warned “the powerful of the earth” they will answer to God if they fail to protect the environment to ensure the world can feed its population. “The planet has enough food for all, but it seems that there is a lack of willingness to share it with everyone. We must do what we can so that everyone has something to eat, but we must also remind the powerful of the earth that God will call them to judgment one day and there it will be revealed if they really tried to provide food for Him in every person and if they did what they could to preserve the environment so that it could produce this food.”
The pope was making a reference to the separation of the sheep and the goats as reported in Matthew 25:31-46. It was a reference that would have been clearly understood and readily brought to mind for his audience: the general assembly of the Catholic charitable organization Caritas. In the story, the righteous ask the judge, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?” Similarly, those who are accursed and sent to eternal punishment ask, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” The answer to both questions is that whatever has been done to “one of the least of these” was done to God.
The story, of course, can leave almost any person in a quandary about our own judgment. For clearly most of us have been in both camps. There have been times when I saw a hungry person and gave that person food. There also have been times when I passed by and did not offer assistance. If God wants to judge me as “sheep” or “goat” there is a clear case to be made for both positions.
The world doesn’t easily divide into the “good guys” and the “bad guys.” Most of the time we find ourselves with a bit of good and a bit of bad in the same person.
Fortunately, the Bible doesn’t paint a picture of an angry God, intent on wreaking vengeance, though some preachers have invested their careers in depicting such a God. For the most part, the God of the Bible is the source of forgiveness and grace and the author of second and third chances. God seems much more eager to forgive than to punish. Even the stories that speak of God’s punishment, show another side of God. Moses is able to persuade God not to destroy the Hebrew people after they worship a golden calf. The prophets speak in angry voices and then provide verse after verse of the poetry of compassion. Jesus speaks much more about God’s love and forgiveness than any other topic.
Seasoned pope watchers - and I must convince I’ve become somewhat of a pope watcher with this pope, though I haven't previously paid a lot of attention to other popes - are paying attention to Pope Francis in expectation of a papal encyclical on the ethical aspects of environmental issues. The pope is set to address the U.N. Special Summit on Sustainable Development in September. And Pope Francis seems to be fearless when it comes to speaking about justice and God’’s interest in what humans are doing in this world.
Still, there are voices within the Roman Catholic church that are warning the Pope to avoid controversial and political topics. He has been counseled not to speak out on issues that might offend the rich and powerful of the world. Preachers are often warned away from politics - especially when they risk offending wealthy donors.
In my own case, I have been careful to be sure that I am speaking to the people of the church and that outsiders don’t get the mistaken notion that I am able to speak for them. My congregation is diverse and widely varied. And the people I serve are perfectly capable of making their own opinions known - they do not need me to speak on their behalf. But observers who are outside the church sometimes mistakenly conclude that statements made by the preacher somehow represent the entire congregation. As a result, I have been reluctant to speak publicly on some issues. I don’t mind sharing my opinions with my congregation, but I don’t assume that I am able to tell others what they should think or believe.
The pope has no similar luxury. He has been elected to be the public representative of the largest church in the world. His every move is watched and interpreted as a sign of the directions that the church will take.
So it will be interesting to watch and listen as the pope speaks to the church and the world. As he calls forth images of God’s judgement, will he also find a way to voice God’s forgiveness? As he addresses the rich and powerful of the world, will he speak for those who are impoverished and powerless? And, when he speaks the truth of God, will those who most need to hear that truth be listening?
It is enough to make one want to pay attention.
You can find strains of those notions in sermons throughout the history of the church and echoes of the threat of God’s judgment in contemporary sermons as well. Yesterday, Pope Francis warned “the powerful of the earth” they will answer to God if they fail to protect the environment to ensure the world can feed its population. “The planet has enough food for all, but it seems that there is a lack of willingness to share it with everyone. We must do what we can so that everyone has something to eat, but we must also remind the powerful of the earth that God will call them to judgment one day and there it will be revealed if they really tried to provide food for Him in every person and if they did what they could to preserve the environment so that it could produce this food.”
The pope was making a reference to the separation of the sheep and the goats as reported in Matthew 25:31-46. It was a reference that would have been clearly understood and readily brought to mind for his audience: the general assembly of the Catholic charitable organization Caritas. In the story, the righteous ask the judge, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?” Similarly, those who are accursed and sent to eternal punishment ask, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” The answer to both questions is that whatever has been done to “one of the least of these” was done to God.
The story, of course, can leave almost any person in a quandary about our own judgment. For clearly most of us have been in both camps. There have been times when I saw a hungry person and gave that person food. There also have been times when I passed by and did not offer assistance. If God wants to judge me as “sheep” or “goat” there is a clear case to be made for both positions.
The world doesn’t easily divide into the “good guys” and the “bad guys.” Most of the time we find ourselves with a bit of good and a bit of bad in the same person.
Fortunately, the Bible doesn’t paint a picture of an angry God, intent on wreaking vengeance, though some preachers have invested their careers in depicting such a God. For the most part, the God of the Bible is the source of forgiveness and grace and the author of second and third chances. God seems much more eager to forgive than to punish. Even the stories that speak of God’s punishment, show another side of God. Moses is able to persuade God not to destroy the Hebrew people after they worship a golden calf. The prophets speak in angry voices and then provide verse after verse of the poetry of compassion. Jesus speaks much more about God’s love and forgiveness than any other topic.
Seasoned pope watchers - and I must convince I’ve become somewhat of a pope watcher with this pope, though I haven't previously paid a lot of attention to other popes - are paying attention to Pope Francis in expectation of a papal encyclical on the ethical aspects of environmental issues. The pope is set to address the U.N. Special Summit on Sustainable Development in September. And Pope Francis seems to be fearless when it comes to speaking about justice and God’’s interest in what humans are doing in this world.
Still, there are voices within the Roman Catholic church that are warning the Pope to avoid controversial and political topics. He has been counseled not to speak out on issues that might offend the rich and powerful of the world. Preachers are often warned away from politics - especially when they risk offending wealthy donors.
In my own case, I have been careful to be sure that I am speaking to the people of the church and that outsiders don’t get the mistaken notion that I am able to speak for them. My congregation is diverse and widely varied. And the people I serve are perfectly capable of making their own opinions known - they do not need me to speak on their behalf. But observers who are outside the church sometimes mistakenly conclude that statements made by the preacher somehow represent the entire congregation. As a result, I have been reluctant to speak publicly on some issues. I don’t mind sharing my opinions with my congregation, but I don’t assume that I am able to tell others what they should think or believe.
The pope has no similar luxury. He has been elected to be the public representative of the largest church in the world. His every move is watched and interpreted as a sign of the directions that the church will take.
So it will be interesting to watch and listen as the pope speaks to the church and the world. As he calls forth images of God’s judgement, will he also find a way to voice God’s forgiveness? As he addresses the rich and powerful of the world, will he speak for those who are impoverished and powerless? And, when he speaks the truth of God, will those who most need to hear that truth be listening?
It is enough to make one want to pay attention.