It must be very difficult to be a good leader like the Holy Father, Pope Francis. In the last week, Pope Francis visited many people here in our nation. Pope Francis is also the first pope to give a talk to the congress. Many of us may have heard his speech or read the speech on the Internet.
As a leader, there is a lot of expectation from the people. People expect to hear him addressed important topics. There's already great tension that exist in our nation between liberals and conservatives..
The Holy Father had to choose his words carefully and wisely. His message could not be simplistic. He cannot speak with a tone of shame or condemnation. But he needs to convey a message of hope, a message that will inspire all people, a message that will unite people, a message that calls people to love God and to love their fellow man, to be good stewards of the environment. His message is to be a message of hope, a message that will lift up the American Spirit.
The Holy Father was very wise. He chose to name the four American Heroes of great value.
American heroes like Abraham Lincoln who worked towards the Emancipation Proclamation, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the civil rights movement, Dorothy Dorothy and the Catholic Worker Movement, and Thomas Merton, a Trappist Monk, author of the Seven Storey Mountain, and peacemaker.
These four people, although not canonized in the Church, are considered American saints because of their courage, heroism, and bravery. They saw how our nation can be better, and they willing to devote their life to the cause. Some, like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. had a baptism of martyrdom.
Being a good leader is not easy. Our Lord was an excellent leader. In the Gospel passage today, it reveals something about his leadership. Christ didn't want to lead people towards a path of sin. He warns us about the dangers of eternal damnation. It is better to go to heaven. It is better to stay as far away from hell.
The Holy Father, as the vicar of Christ, is a great leader. He is also humble because he asked people to pray for him. It's not easy being a leader because of people's demands and expectations. But he shows tremendous courage.
Also, he can visit with anyone regardless of their background and social status.
The scriptures today bring up an important topic of inclusion. The two elders, Eldad and Medad, although were not with the rest of the elders. But the spirit descended upon them and they also prophesied.
St. Mark persevere a passage where some people were performing miracles in Jesus' name but was not with the Apostles. The apostles tried to prevent them. But the Lord replied: do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who at the same time speak ill of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will not lose his reward.
As the apostles tried to close the circle, and make it smaller, the Lord does the opposite. He widens the circle. Whoever is not against us is in the circle. Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink is in the circle.
When the Holy Father visits people, despite their background, he is also widening the circle. People, who are not Catholic like Abraham Lincoln or Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., because of the Holy Father's reference means that they too are part of the circle of heaven.
We have a tendency to tighten our circles to only those that we feel comfortable, to only those who think like us, to only those who are like us. If humanity keeps going down this route, the world will not be a better place.
That's why it's great to be in America. America is known for being a melting pot. Certainly, we don't want to compromise any Catholic doctrine, but as long as we look for ways not to be exclusive but to be inclusive, America will always be a special place. Also, the Church will always be a special place, where we can set aside our differences and come together for the worship of God. And to love God with all our heart mind and soul, and to love one another as oneself.
God bless you and God bless America.
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