A Man of Love, Peace and Compassion
In the midst of tremendous anger, rage, hostility, hatred and hopelessness, God sends a man of Love, Peace and Compassion.
The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis, came to America. America, “The land of the free and the home of the brave.” America, the land of anger, rage, hostility, self-centeredness, killings, fraud and much more, Pope Francis dared to place his feet on American soil.
What an awesome week we Americans experienced, observing a man of peace, love and compassion. What a sharp contrast from boisterous Donald Trump. While the Don exhibited gross pride (one of the 7 deadly sins), the Pope demonstrated awesome humility. While the news media didn’t know what to make of a man with his temperament, they too were completely amazed. They were not sure what to make of a personality of this magnitude.
My television was tuned to the channels displaying the entirety of the Pope’s visit. My eyes were fixed upon this man of most unusual outward expression. Yet, I was able to sense and feel his heart and spirit. A heart and spirit for the hungry, homeless, poor,….for those in prison, for children. A heart and spirit for the sick, elderly and those with special needs.
As I reflected on Pope Francis’ visit, I took in his every word and gesture, knowing that our Holy Scripture (Matthew 25:35-36) encourages all of us to feed the hungry, attend to the poor, visit those in prison, care for the sic, elderly and children.
How did America grow so far away from the truth of our very scriptures that we are commanded to follow?
America, you dare to deprive men, women, boys and girls of the bare necessities of life, while others continue to live in affluence.
America, you dare to deprive others of the opportunity to have their physical care, health care and mental health needs addressed.
America, you dare to allow human beings to live on streets, boarded up houses, park benches, covered with cardboard boxes.
America, you dare to ration out food as if food were gold. How dare you America.
America, you dare to allow our elderly to chose between food or medication at the end of each month.
America, you dare to allow children to be killed in schools, homes and street corners. What happened to us American?
But behold, one day in September, God commissioned a man called Francis to walk the streets of Washington D.C., New York and Philadelphia. Preachers and politicians became nervous and uncomfortable. “How dare this man try to disrupt our already corrupt systems? This man reminded America of what we used to be. This man reminded America of what we could become once again. This man….this man….this man of God. Not perfect by any means, but a man of God.
The Pope returned to his home in Vatican City. The question for Americans is “will it be business as usual?” “Will a demonstration of love and compassion by one man, change the hearts and minds of Americans?”
My prayer each morning is “Lord, please heal the hearts and minds of men and women….of boys and girls…of politicians and even the Clergy of this country, that we might live out the scriptures each and every day of our lives.
“Lord, heal the hearts of Americans”.