This Historic Work Week
I don't know about you, but Our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has been on my mind so much during these last days of his pontificate, it's hard to concentrate on my work to some degree. Oh, I'll certainly be able to stay on top of things; it's just that there's a kind of constant distraction as we count down the days and hours to Thursday, February 28th, 8 PM. It really is an historic week that all of us are living through, and we shouldn't ignore the significance of it, no matter how busy things might get at work this week.
One thing that has particularly struck me is Benedict's calm persistence in continuing to work even as the final moments of his papacy draw near. The past week saw the major media pushing various stories about both the Pope's reasons for resigning as well as their speculations on the upcoming Conclave. Most of it is nonsense, of course, although one story seems to bear looking into and we may do that at some point, since it seems to be substantive and may play a role in the Conclave. Meanwhile, I'm just impressed by how Benedict has stuck to his work as Pope in making sure that changes were put into effect for the coming Conclave, including the restoration of the 2/3 majority rule for electing a new pope, reform of the first papal liturgy to be celebrated by the new pope, as well as some strong statements about the challenges our new pope will face. Frankly, his persistence despite what must be a difficult time for him inspired me to keep working best I could in spite of being under the weather last week. Indeed, it can inspire all of us whenever we face difficulties or obstacles at work. Just keep working towards faithfully fulfilling your duties each day, just as Our Holy Father has done, despite his advanced age and what must surely be much greater obstacles and distractions than any of us typically face.
So in the same spirit of keeping things going despite challenges and difficulties, I want to pass on to you some remarks of BXVI regarding the Year of Faith he instituted. They remind us that the Church and its work of salvation continues, despite his resignation. Here are some practical tips he gave us that can remind us of how to get the most out of this grace-filled year. I particularly note these for those of us who make the time at some point during our busy days to read Scripture as part of our "norms of piety" each day:
One thing that has particularly struck me is Benedict's calm persistence in continuing to work even as the final moments of his papacy draw near. The past week saw the major media pushing various stories about both the Pope's reasons for resigning as well as their speculations on the upcoming Conclave. Most of it is nonsense, of course, although one story seems to bear looking into and we may do that at some point, since it seems to be substantive and may play a role in the Conclave. Meanwhile, I'm just impressed by how Benedict has stuck to his work as Pope in making sure that changes were put into effect for the coming Conclave, including the restoration of the 2/3 majority rule for electing a new pope, reform of the first papal liturgy to be celebrated by the new pope, as well as some strong statements about the challenges our new pope will face. Frankly, his persistence despite what must be a difficult time for him inspired me to keep working best I could in spite of being under the weather last week. Indeed, it can inspire all of us whenever we face difficulties or obstacles at work. Just keep working towards faithfully fulfilling your duties each day, just as Our Holy Father has done, despite his advanced age and what must surely be much greater obstacles and distractions than any of us typically face.
So in the same spirit of keeping things going despite challenges and difficulties, I want to pass on to you some remarks of BXVI regarding the Year of Faith he instituted. They remind us that the Church and its work of salvation continues, despite his resignation. Here are some practical tips he gave us that can remind us of how to get the most out of this grace-filled year. I particularly note these for those of us who make the time at some point during our busy days to read Scripture as part of our "norms of piety" each day:
"I would like - once again - to invite everyone in this Year of Faith, to take the Bible in hand more often to read and meditate on it and pay more attention to the Readings in Sunday Mass..."How fortunate we are to have these words of Our Holy Father to encourage us in our spiritual growth during this Year of Faith, most especially during this Holy Season of Lent.
"Reading the Old Testament, we see how God's interventions in the history of the people He has chosen for Himself, and with whom He makes a covenant are not facts that pass and fall into oblivion, but become 'memory.' Together they constitute the 'history of salvation"...
"...this revelation of God that progresses in history culminates in Jesus Christ: God, the Logos, the creative Word which is the origin of the world, became incarnate in Jesus and showed the true face of God. In Jesus every promise is fulfilled, in Him the culmination of God's history with humanity takes place. When we read the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, narrated for us by St. Luke, we see how it becomes clear that the person of Christ illuminates the Old Testament, the whole history of salvation, and shows the great unified design of the two Testaments..."
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