I have been thinking along similar lines.
JPII used his charisma to bring us a little closer to God, to remind us of the mysticism of belief and pointed us to Mary.
PBXVI brought intellect, theology and an appeal of the brain to better understand the times since VII as well as beginning the reform of the reform.
I was wondering what God had in store for us with the conclave, and would we have a traditional Pope, an energetic reformer to tidy up the alleged bureaucratic issues at the Vatican, a reformer? These questions seemed to flow through many chats and discussions, we all seemed to think we knew what the Church needed.
For all of our good intentions, and well meaning thoughts, I feel like God has hit me right between the eyes with a sledgehammer.
Pope Francis seems like he will lead us in how to take all the last 50 years of teaching (and our misunderstanding of what our Popes have tried to tell us) and bring us back to the roots. All these things are important but bringing Jesus where he is not currently is still the major request of us. To the poor, to the ill, to the widows, to the incarcerated, to the downtrodden?
I am sure others may express these things more eloquently than I, but our Holy Father is calling us all to service. He will shake us out of our comfort zone, and when he is willing to do this, and go where he goes, how can we not follow?
Many will be upset, and sadly we may see the smaller Church that PBXVI spoke about, but he also said it will be a holier Church.
I find almost everytime Pope Francis speaks, it shakes me a little further from my own personal comfort zone, I pray I have the strength to follow. The journey may be a tough one.
