Discerning God's Call
14/03/13 05:48
Discerning God’s call is often a very difficult process. In my own life, recognition of the call to ministry was not particularly traumatic or dramatic. I easily came to that realization early in my life and have received regular confirmation of that call throughout my career. But knowing the specifics has been a bigger challenge. Where am I called to lead? When is the right time for me to consider a different call? Knowing that the church needs new leadership in each generation, when is the right time for me to step aside and allow new leadership to emerge? These questions are on my mind regularly as I pray and ponder what is best for the congregation that I serve. The answers to the questions do not come easily. And sometimes just raising the questions is threatening for church leaders. In our congregation, it is typical for a person to serve as moderator for two years. In recent years, several moderators have asked me to assure them that I am not going to move during the period of time that they will be leading. While I appreciate their confidence in my leadership, I hope that such expressions are not just our human tendency to choose the easiest path. I don’t want to cut off our openness to God’s call for the congregation.
So I am intrigued as I think of the selection of Pope Francis. I have had very positive relationships with Jesuits in the past. The Jesuit School of Theology at Chicago was one of the members of the Chicago Consortium of Theological Schools when I was a student at Chicago Theological Seminary. Our schools had open registration that allowed us to register for classes at other schools as a part of our education without any additional cost. Learning alongside Jesuit scholars added richness to my education for which I have been grateful. On a few occasions I had the opportunity to travel with Jesuit students and learn more about their faith and commitments.
Knowing what little bit that I do, I believed that the world would not see a Jesuit become pope in my lifetime. Jesuits take a vow not to “ambition” or to seek any ecclesiastical offices outside of the Society. No Jesuit would ever campaign or even offer his name for appointment or election to any office. And, if chosen for an office, the candidate must remind the appointing authority of his vow not to seek office. When the pope appoints a Jesuit bishop, that person will decline and remind the pope of his vow. Only when the pope commands that the Jesuit accept ordination to the office of bishop will the Jesuit accept out of loyalty to a prior and deeper vow of obedience. Jesuits take these vows very seriously. Their strict observance of the vow of poverty and a life of service often means that they are not noticed by the outside world. They are humble persons who seek to life a life of faith away from the spotlight.
Now I have hear the rumors that Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergolio was a serious contender for the papacy. I have even heard that he received the second highest number of votes when Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elevated to Pope Benedict XVI. But those are rumors and I have discounted them. Cardinals vow strict secrecy about the proceedings of the council as it discerns who the pope will be and rumors of what happens within the Chapel during that process are just that: rumors. I am sure that Cardinal Bergolio’s name did come up in the process of discerning papal leadership, but there are lots of names that are offered. His name wasn’t on any of the lists of “top possibilities” that I read in recent weeks.
All I am really trying to say is that I suspect that the cardinals are as surprised by the selection as are many members of the church and we casual observers who belong to other Christian communions. I don’t think it is easy to select a pope.
From reading the Bible, we imagine that God spoke to Moses from the burning bush in a way that he could not be ignored. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on a throne and one believes that he had no trouble recognizing what he was seeing. At least by the time the burning coal touched his lips, he must have been pretty certain about his call. Jeremiah tried to talk his way out of his call to be a prophet, but his arguments didn’t hold much sway. I imagine that the descent of the dove and the voice from heaven left no uncertainty in Jesus’ mind about his role and vocation.
But for most of us, that call isn’t quite as clear. We sense directions and we weigh options. Even when I have been actively seeking a new position within the church, I have done so with no small amount of doubt. And I know, in advance, that I will never be asked to be the leader of a denomination. I can’t imagine what went through the mind of Cardinal Bergolio when it became apparent that he would be selected. I imagine that if I had been in his shoes, I would have wanted to go to the restroom and vomit rather than walk through the red curtains out onto that balcony.
I am not a member of the Roman Catholic Church. But I will pray for this pope, as I have prayed for others before him. I do not pretend to understand the process of vocation and selection, but I know that it is not an easy process. And I know that the mantle of leadership is a heavy burden.
I know that I am not the only one who is surprised by the selection of Pope Francis. The news sites and blogs are filled with expressions of amazement. What is more, I believe that the Pope himself is surprised and shocked by the turn of events. I doubt that the feeling will fade quickly.