RSS Feed
Why the Pope Matters to Me
In my life so far, I’ve seen the Pope four times. In 1984, he visited my hometown of St John’s, Newfoundland, and my mom sang in the choir. Not only that, I was mere inches away from the Popemobile as it drove by. Then I got side-armed by an 80-year-old, daily communicant with a rosary in one hand and a Bible in the other. She should have been playing rugby for the local “Vandals” team. I digress.
In 1999, when the Pope visited St Louis, I was backing up a good friend, Tom Booth (who had written the theme song for the Archdiocesan Youth Day) in the Kiel Center. There were 22,000 people in there. When the Holy Father appeared, it was so loud from people (mostly teenagers) screaming that the noise canceled itself out. It turned into white noise.
In 2000, I was in Rome for World Youth Day with my church youth group. It was a week-and-a-half long pilgrimage full of amazing memories and two million people. In 2002, I was in Toronto for World Youth Day. I actually had the opportunity of singing a setting I had written of a Litany of the Saints for the Saturday evening prayer vigil with several hundred thousand people in Lansdowne Park. It was an amazing moment. At one point, when the Pope came up on the stage, the 200 people that were flanking either side in the guest section, rushed over to meet him. I stood about two feet from him as he drove by on a moving “stand” of sorts. I can’t explain what I saw when I looked into his eyes; what I can tell you is that I saw a love that has endured many things. I saw the love of God.
Now, six years later, we have another Pope - another successor in the chair of Peter, making a visit to this country. Many things have changed since the death of John Paul II - especially in American society. Our country is in a state of recession; we have endured a war against a faceless enemy of fundamentalist extremism, and we are grasping for a common sense of purpose and mission for our country. So why (in my humble opinion) is a Papal visit be important for America?
The Chair Of Peter - Bringing the Authority of Christ.
Pope Benedict is not an imposing looking man. He’s 81 years old. Yet, when he arrived, every major news media began to record his every public word; millions of Americans listened to him speak, even the President who gave him a red-carpet welcome to the White House; no doubt someone spent copious amounts of money on ebay trying to buy tickets to the Mass at the Nationals Stadium or Yankee Stadium. The next time Prince Charles or one of his sons visit this country, I can’t see this happening. The question remains why?
I think because of what he represents. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. He stands for Jesus Christ. In his frailty of appearance, the humility of the incarnation shines through - of the word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. For all Christians, it is a reminder that their faith is something that has more history than this country. It’s a faith that has 2000 years worth of stories of fellow men and women who not only died standing for their beliefs; they lived beautifully because of them. I think that’s what people see; they see the hope that only the love of God can bring. This is not about a man having all the power; this is not about how big or strong an institution can be; this is about a man who is a servant to the servants of God. A man who calls the rich to care for the poor, and stand in solidarity with them; a man who holds up the dignity of every human person - from the unborn to the dying, the prisoner to the free, the unbelieving to the newly canonized. That’s what I see when I see the Papacy.
Faith Vs. Reason –
In 2006, Pope Benedict was criticized by the Muslim community for quoting a document written in 1391. In “Dialogue Held With A Certain Persian, the Worthy Mouterizes, in Anakara of Galatia”, the Byzantine Emperor at the time, Manuel II Paleologus, said some rather harsh things about Islam. 1700 or so years later, the current Pope is being accused of religious bigotry because he used this in a speech about faith and reason needing to coexist especially when it comes to religious belief. It is reason that God gives us as our “baseline” when our emotions sometimes cloud or influence our hearts and minds as we strive to hear the voice of love; otherwise, we would become slaves to our own will. I believe this is one of the only ways the civilized world can come to peaceful resolution with strong religious systems. Put simply, God’s word has been spoken. When you justify breaking commands from God in His name, for the purpose of bringing more people to that faith, you have compromised its worth in your own heart. Pope Benedict continues to be a champion for this, and it’s one of the very issues America needs to talk about.
American society is at a turning point when it comes to religious freedom. We have become more tolerant than ever of different religious expressions. However, when reason does not allow faith to have a relevancy to innovation, science, technology, and the way our global family grows together, what does that say? Have we begun to show disrespect and intolerance to organized religion? When you tolerate anything but belief in something, isn’t that the beginnings of a new type of “relativistic fundamentalism”?
On the other end of the spectrum, some churches look at the “recruitment tactics” of extremist groups and say things like, “you’ve gotta fight fire with fire”...which is an example of when faith does not allow reason to speak. Certain groups would say that man cannot bring reason to the will of God. But God does not contradict Himself. He is infinite love. Let us pray that we follow the example of our maker. As we welcome the Pope, we welcome Jesus Christ, for that is who the Pope would want all attention and praise to go to anyways.
Matt Maher is a recording artist for Essential Records. His new album, Empty & Beautiful, was released April 8.
By Matt Maher |
April 18, 2008; 1:14 PM ET
Share: Email a Friend | 
Technorati
| Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Previous: What Benedict Hasn't Said About the Holocaust |
Next: What Now for Catholic Education?
Posted by: Stephen Day | April 25, 2008 6:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
TO GARYD:
You wrote, "The first problem I have with the Catholic church is the anti Biblical notion that Christians who were called by Christ and Paul a nation of Priests need a priest or than any intercessor other than Jesus Christ is necessary.".
Have you ever thought that your problem might be with God and the fact that God doesn't fit into the box that you want Him to fit into?
Sincerely, Thomas Paul Moses Baum.
Posted by: Thomas Baum | April 21, 2008 11:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
GaryD, Gideon,
You do believe Jesus is the son of God? You do believe the Bible is the foundation of religion? Can you read?
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
How many churches did Jesus start? Who started all the other churches?
The devil makes them do that.
Posted by: BGone | April 20, 2008 11:17 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I cannot speak for Gideon of course by I can certainly speak for myself. The first problem I have with the Catholic church is the anti Biblical notion that Christians who were called by Christ and Paul a nation of Priests need a priest or than any intercessor other than Jesus Christ is necessary.
Posted by: Garyd | April 20, 2008 10:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Gideon,
How can you say that Catholicism has nothing to do with Christianity? Do you have any understanding at all about Catholic history or theology? I assume you are a protestant. What are you protesting, in particular?
Posted by: paul C | April 20, 2008 8:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Gideon why then did Jesus not tell the disciples to rid themselves of those swords?
Posted by: Garyd | April 20, 2008 6:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Odd this Jesus was crucified so our sins, violations of God's laws can be forgiven dogma, don't you think? God alone is happy to have His son, only son to boot tortured and killed. Anyone else would be screaming for justice, in the news all the time. Human nature has a long way to go before people become God like, don't you think?
Could it be the pope doesn't really represent God? Was that really God in the famous burning bush? That's the supernatural being the pope represents isn't it? How about the angel that would be God, Lucifer? Would He sacrifice His only son to trick folks into worshiping Him? The pope does advocate the worship of the being in the burning bush?
Posted by: BGone | April 20, 2008 4:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Catholicism has nothing to do with Christianity, except that it claims to be Christian.
The Roman Catholic Church is drenched in the blood of thousands of Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Perhaps worse yet, it has led countless millions into perdition.
Jesus never killed anyone, neither did he advocate killing anyone, nor did he sanction killing anyone. He laid down his life rather than kill and commanded his disciples to follow his example. A Christian, by definition, follows the example of Jesus Christ.
Simply believing that JC was the Son of God avails nothing. The devils believe and tremble.
Posted by: Gideon | April 20, 2008 3:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
It ain't Peter's Chair. And Peter would be appalled at that very Sobriquet. The Rock the church is founded upon isn't Peter but the faith Peter had that was imparted to Him by the Holy Spirit.
Faith is the Church's foundation, not Peter, not Paul, but God given faith. Do you know why Peter had to go through that experience in the Court yard? For the purpose of humility so that Peter could learn at long last that he could not depend on his own strength on his own will and that he must ever depend upon God for all of those.
Posted by: Garyd | April 20, 2008 10:34 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I was raised as a Catholic, left the Church to become an atheist for the past 30 years and
I am now in the process of returning to Catholic Church actively embracing its sacraments
and doctrine. Why did I return? In general, it was a realization that there is a Supreme
Being called God and that the Catholic Church, with all its flawed history, is the
institution established by Jesus Christ to guide me how to best worship and obey the will
of God his Father.
Basically the way I came to this realization was a gift of faith and a feeling of spiritual
emptiness in my life. There are specific events and people I read about that I believe
helped inspire and reinforce this faith. These include:
-- what happened at Fatima on Oct 13, 1917
-- the image on the Guadalupe tilma particularly the supernatural reflection of the right
eye
-- the miraculous spring at Lourdes
-- the lives of people venerated by the Catholic Church such as:
Padre Pio, Father Solanus of Detroit, the Little Flower Saint Therese, Mother Theresa, St Francis of Assisi, John Paul II and many others.
Yes, there have been many flawed popes and other clergy in the 2000+ year history of the
Catholic Church and I am not always in total agreement with all its teachings, but Catholic
Church has existed longer than any other institution in the history of mankind and will
continue to do so simply because it is the true Church of God.
Posted by: Dave | April 19, 2008 8:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Nearly every time Ratzinger opens his mouth, he tells some vicious lie about secular and non-religious people. He attacks me and mine. Religious people often don't perceive these insults and deceptions because they live their lives in worlds where science and secular approaches are constantly attacked and belittled.
He inspires nothing in me but contempt. If he would just shut up and stop insulting my way of life, I would be more than happy to live in peace with the man.
Posted by: Ash | April 19, 2008 7:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Worth repeating for the new guest:
The Crises in the contemporary Catholic Church:
The inappropriate conduct of many priests, the emotional stress on the victims and the resultant billion dollars in lawsuits.
The lack of talent in the priesthood.
The lack of Vatican response to the historic Jesus movement.
The Church's continuing cling to original sin and the resulting subsets of crazy ideas like limbo.
The denial of priesthood to women.
The restriction of priesthood to single men (unless you are former Episcopalian priests),
And the continued chain of Vatican "leadership" by old European white men.
Posted by: Concerned The Christian Now Liberated | April 19, 2008 11:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.
I am so blessed to have been able to spend even small amounts of time around you and the band. I love what God is doing in and thru you. I also love being able to hear your worship on the fish 104.7 and continually pray for peace, protection and increased territory.
Blessings and Peace
Stephen and Marie Day