Brian’s Reflection: Wednesday, April 15, 2009

I wouldn't take the Pope too seriously.
He's a Pole first, a pope second, and
maybe a Christian third.

- Muriel Spark, author, who died on this date, 2006
[ “The Pride of Miss Jean Brodie” ] [ speaking of
John Paul II ]

I criticize my own church, and other Christian denominations, and other religions, for a loving reason. What reason? Because the desire to conform to the World’s values, particularly the longing for power and Worldly adulation is SUCH a temptation! In the case of the Roman Catholic Church, it’s been a 1700 year struggle in which they have not been very successful. Popes, especially patriarchal and cultural captives, are human.

The same thing could be said of Benedict XVI. He’s an octogenarian German trapped in a 1940’s mind.

But dear Muriel makes a very powerful point. Even popes are Christians third. And this is the problem with all religious people We are Christians or Buddhists, or Muslims or Jews or Zorosastrians or Orthodox THIRD! If not less than Third!

I see this in my own path. I am devastated and disgusted with myself when I see just how puny a follower of the Gospel I am! The bottom line is: We are supposed to Love as Jesus Loved! - i.e., to a complete disregard of personal safety, social and economic status, etc. But we DON’T. We can find all kinds of excuses for pardoning ourselves for not following the Great Commandment. How far we fall from loving God as God loves us.

The pope and the Vatican, the Anglican Communion, the Southern Baptists, the Mormons (if they are indeed Christians, not that it ultimately matters), the mainline Christian churches - we are NOT followers of Jesus and His Great Commandment: Love One another as I have Loved You. We are not able to be so radical as He was. We choose institutionalism and tribalism over our Divinity.

Friends: do whatever you can to live the call to “be as the Christ”. To be a “child of the God of Love”.

The World will be a much better place.

Brian+