Pomp and Piety
Pope John Paul the II, greatly loved and highly respected leader of the Catholic church gave his followers a scare. The Pope was rushed to the hospital when he experienced difficulty breathing.
As you know the Pope is old and frail, and he is battling Parkinson’s disease. These issues coupled with a touch of the flu threatened his life. The Pontiff rallied however and returned to the Vatican.
Catholics the world over breathed a sigh of relief, but let’s be realistic, all men face a common fate and the Pope is no exception. It’s not a matter of if he is going to die, but when. That brings me to the point of this writing.
The Pontiff has held his religious office for over 25 years, a virtual icon of religiosity. If you’re too young to remember a new Pope ascending to the throne of the Catholic faith, well, you ain’t seen nothing yet. The presidential inauguration pales in comparison to the pomp and ceremony you will witness when this event happens.
We humans are so easily blinded by glitz and glamour. So easily swept away in the current of our own religious imagination. The more pomp the more piety we reason. The teaching and example of Jesus will guard us from error, but only if we let it.
Jesus was born in a manger, washed the Apostles feet, and humbled himself to the point of death on a cross. No bells and whistles, just service and humility motivated by love.