Pope Francis

He was here and I have notes.

Pencil and pad in hand, quick scribbles of words, phrases that resonated with me were preserved for pondering as my ordinary but important life continues.  (You are not to wince about my choice of words in the previous sentence.  I realize I am speaking to others who also realize all of our lives are important. )

The notes are selfishly recorded here.  My silent prayer is my senses maintain sensibility for many more years to come, i.e., I’ll not soon say, “Now why was I impressed by that ministry of Pope Francis?”  Because, at the time, the words I heard, the information, touched me.  I understood how I must use the advice imparted to become a good person; to help better any community I am part of with my attention and my actions.

An imperfect world

My notes –

             Pope Francis wants Church to be pastoral, not doctrinal.  

            Lending requirements keep alive poverty, exclusion, and dependence.   The distribution decisions of the World Monetary Fund may have been part of his concern.  Nevertheless, my thoughts questioned whether social justice for the less fortunate on our planet will remain only a dream.

            Every Christian has an intrinsic value.  (I’m a Christian so of course I revisited the word – ‘intrinsic’, yes, it means essential.)  I believe I believe every person has an intrinsic value.  Hmmm, thought provoking.

            The compromising of creation is when we see nothing but ourselves.  

            …idle chatter, which provides a cover for the elimination of justice -  (How many important issues in our free society are unresolved while we talk, talk, talk?)

            Pope Francis choose the term ‘universal fraternity’,   to me more widely inclusive than ‘brotherhood’.  I like.

            “If you fight among yourselves, you’ll be devoured by those outside.”   Oh yes.

            “Truth is above everything.”   Amen.

I have quotes around the last two of my scribbles, so I’m thinking I made an effort to gather those particular words of Pope Francis verbatim.  My apology if I failed.

A take-a-way note to self reads:  "Marva, try to be a prophet of construction."  I heard Pope Francis ask for us to do that.  And, because my outspoken nature has me agonizing over whether my words are destructive, I've challenged myself to be constructive.

Please pray for me as you pray for others.