The whole world watched in great anticipation as we all stared at the chimney over the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The smoke rolls out white, but then quickly turns black. No pope. Twice we lived this anticipation. And then, finally, the smoke stayed white. Roman Catholics around the world rejoiced as the new Pope stepped out on the balcony to bless the crowds around the world.
While Old Catholics do not have a pope, we watched with excitement too. The process of electing a pope is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. And who doesn’t like a good mystery and a surprise ending?
This Sunday we listen to the story of Paul and Barnabas and how they faced persecution for preaching the Gospel to the Jews. We see the moment when they decided to turn toward the Gentiles to preach the message to them. The Gentiles embraced the message almost immediately. And they embraced it with great joy.
Two thousand years after Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd, we shepherds of the church continue to follow in his footsteps. We should all strive to follow the Good Shepherd and to put our faith and trust in him. Paul and Barnabas showed us that despite the persecution they endured, they remained steadfast in their faith.
There are times when I am disheartened by the lack of faith of most people who claim to be Christians. They put their faith in money, power, personality cults, and possessions. Sadly, all those things will pass away and rot. They will not be there for you when your life is over. Only faith in Jesus remains.
And so many people claim to have faith but fail to care for one another. They fail to care for the poor, the widow, and the orphan. Instead, they seek out riches and power. They are filling to trade the eternal for the fleeting.
As a Shepherd, it is my job to call the sheep back into the fold. It is my job to call those who stray to repentance. And many people see that as judgmental, however, it is our call as shepherds. Jesus called out those who failed to live up to the Gospel. He called out the religious leaders of his day who had sold out their faith for the temporary power given them by Rome. And Jesus routinely called them out for their lack of faith.
Today, I pray you will listen and hear me. Trump will not get you to heaven. Money, power, and possessions will not get you to heaven. Only faith in the divine will get you to heaven.
So, I pray you stop focusing on the things that will pass away and heed the call to set your mind on things that are eternal!
Pax et Bonum,
Bishop Greer