Perhaps today’s reading from Genesis has even more meaning for the millions of Catholics around the world hearing of Pope Benedict’s XVI’s resignation (abdication). I immediately recalled the  movie “We have a Pope” which I think was supposed to be a comedy, but I didn’t find myself doing much laughing through it.
Sometimes I have to see and listen to what is often “poppycock”, but it does reflect how others see the Church through their eyes, therefore is important to try and understand what they are seeing. Only then can we reflect and determine what our response might be to their view.

So in this movie the Pope is tormented because he has been elected and doesn’t want the job, the Vatican “system “ around him, forces him to take the job, and if you have 2 hours to waste in your life, you can watch the movie, so I won’t be a spoiler for the ending.

Anyway, taking the Pope at his word, (and if I can’t trust the word of my Pope, who can I trust?) … then Pope Benedict may have just raised the bar on the level of humility that a human person can achieve.

Just as Genesis describes in today’s readings:

Then God said:
“Let there be lights in the dome of the sky,
to separate day from night.
Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years,
and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky,
to shed light upon the earth.”

As God creates the earth and later man, he sets a timeline around it. The cycle of human life that describes what we can do for His glory while here.

In Papal history, we have little in recent times to define the Papal role as anything but a lifetime event, once the Holy Father is appointed. For Pope Benedict to resign, with full knowledge that he cannot execute his duties as effectively as he believes they need to be, he paves the way for a successor with the energy and vigor required to lead the Church in his calls for the New Evangelization. By doing so, he is taking a humble and noble act to give the leadership of his sheep over to the Shepard most ready and able to do the job. We love the work he has done, but if sees the time is now to move on, who can I be to question his judgment. This will not be a decision he has taken lightly, or without much prayer, we have to trust his inspired leadership on this issue.

I pray that we might be granted the strength that he has shown in this most altruistic act of his Papacy … and for the understanding of how this may lead the Church into practices that will continue the spread of The Word.

Pope Benedict has been a profound leader, theologian, healer and spiritual guide for millions. May the Lord bless him in his new role and give him many years of prayerful writing and reflection.

Mike Cunningham 11 February 2013