A Sad Day, But Great Lesson

    Today we hear that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI is stepping down as our Spiritual Leader here in the Catholic Church. First things first, I pray that he may have a wonderful rest of his life and I want to thank him for all of the great works he has done for our Church and our world as a Cardinal and as the Pope. I remember being in Madrid in 2011 and standing in the streets being merely 5 feet away from this man who has written so many wonderful theological teachings! I wish and pray for the best and a peaceful end to a very fulfilling and holy life.

   This news is crazy to hear based on the fact that this sort of thing has not happened since 1415 and before that not since the year 1294! So clearly as a youth minister and having a middle school youth group tonight, I could not help but change my entire lesson for tonight and speak on this truly once in a lifetime event that so drastically alters the history of our Church! I also have to look back to the lesson I taught my High School teens last night at our Lifenight. We covered the topic of FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE, or listening for God to tell us when it is time to begin a new chapter in our life or when to ask that special someone to marry you. Well God has just given us the greatest witness of doing his will!

   In my own meditation on everything today, I am reminded of the teaching I used last night that included Jesus saying "not what I will but you will"(Mark14:36). We as sons and daughters of God are called to listen to whatever our Father is telling us. It could be as simple and easy as not going to eat that extra cookie before dinner, or finding your vocation (if you can call that easy) or it could be stepping down from the Papal Position of the entire Catholic Church. I see more joy in this news today due to the fact that the Holy Father has chosen to take up the chalice given to him like Christ did in the garden the night he was betrayed. I see it as a witness of faith and a witness of being able to hear God and to do whatever God is telling you to do.

    So today is sad, but we have a great lesson learned!