Even though Pope John Paul passed away this morning, the discussion of his legacy began days ago. The Pope’s story of faith is one of the convergence of politics and spirituality: that Jesus is to leave no part of our lives untouched. Coming from Poland, he grew up face to face with communism, and strongly opposed the oppression and despair projected upon Eastern Europe. Yet he also spoke disparagingly against the abuses of capitalism and American materialism.
In these stances, the Pope pointed people to Jesus, taking seriously his role as world shepherd. This past Ash Wednesday the Pope said, “Looking at Christ and following Him with patient trust, we succeed in understanding that every human form of pain contains in itself a divine promise of salvation and joy.” I cannot help but acknowledge the strong parallel between this quote and what the author of the book of Hebrews said, “Let us keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.”
Pope John Paul the II lived his life as an example of missionality. May it be said of us, at our passing that we “walked as Jesus walked”, as was said of the Pope in today’s Rocky Mountain News. In the face injustice may we keep our eyes on Jesus, remembering our citizenship is in Heaven and not in the political or economics systems that we feel most comfortable. As Pope John Paul II manifested, that is a legacy worth building upon: Jesus!
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