Today we celebrate the feast day of Pope John Paul II, who is now a saint. Since he served as Pope from 1978 to 2005, quite a long period of time and very recently, I think many of us have many memories of him as pope. One thing that always impressed me was how he traveled to so many countries and had such an influence on world events, coming from Poland and having fought so hard for the end of communism in his country and throughout the world. I also think of how Pope John Paul II reached out to the youth in a special way, especially in the World Youth Day Catholic gatherings that he would have throughout the world. His devotion to St Therese of Lisieux and to the Divine Mercy of Jesus, with the establishment of Divine Mercy Sunday right after Easter, are also things for which he will be remembered. I can also remember how he survived a assassination attempt in 1981, how he offered mercy and forgiveness to the man who attacked him. Yes, in many ways, John Paul II was a Church leader and witness to the faith who very much shaped our modern Catholic Church.
The psalmist declares today: Here I am Lord - I come to do your will. The so much describes John Paul II and his spirituality, trying to listen and follow God’s will in his life, trying to lead the faithful according to God’s will as the world becomes more and more secular and materialistic. We celebrate John Paul II today. May his spirit of evangelization and his missionary spirit continue to inspire us.
No comments:
Post a Comment