Idyllic sunset on dusty road in countryside. AdobeStock_17006749_by Dušan Zidar
By Deacon Gordon D. Richard
You and I are on a faith journey, as is the Church, and at no time in history, other than the very early days of the Church, is our faith journey more important and more critical. We live in the age of the Holy Spirit where we are especially called, and that is all of us. Some would say, “If I only had lived when Jesus walked the earth!” But it is more important to live lives of faith now, because we have the help of the Spirit of God.
The Second Vatican Council put forth the belief and image of all of us being “The People of God,” and this image was presented before and in front of the hierarchical image of our Catholic Church. The great call of the Council is for us to live out our rightful role and image as the People of God.
The Council called for renewal of the faithful and a recognition that our lives as a journey to the Lord is why each of us are here. A big part of that journey is the joy that can come to each of us as we live out the calling. Pope Francis said it well, “The joy of the Gospel fills the heart and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew.”
Pope Francis’ very first writing was entitled “The Joy of the Gospel.” I am anxious to read and hear Pope Leo XIV’s first principal teaching. It will reveal where he wants to lead us on this faith journey we call life.
Pope Francis’ “manifesto” was 50,000 words and used “love” 150 times, “joy” more than 100 times and “the poor” almost 100 times. I suspect Pope Leo’s first writing may use these words as often to carry his message for us today.
Francis’ encouragement to each of us was to “encounter Jesus.” How do we do that? Certainly, in our personal prayer life in speaking to the Lord, in our reading and taking in God’s Word and in our prayerful participation in the Eucharist.
Pope Francis’ prayer was “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you, I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace.” Such a beautiful prayer to pray and remember a very special pope.
