Tuesday, April 05, 2005

John Paul the Great

"4CHRISTsake" - new young adult service group at St. Stephen's. Kick-off night is this Sunday, after the 5:30 pm Mass, Parish Hall.

The group will serve Christ in His Church and in His poor. Please come out Sunday night and learn how you can serve the least of Christ's brethren (Matthew 25).
------------------------------------
I am watching the television coverage in real shock these days. I never thought I'd see the day when so many aspects of the Catholic Church are being reported in such great detail, and for such duration. Tonight, I thought to myself briefly as I flipped through several channels, 'so, this is what it would be like if the whole world was Catholic.' Hopefully, the positive coverage will continue!

Two things, however, have not been said in any great length (in the coverage that I've seen) about our late and great Holy Father. The first thing is that John Paul II was great friends with Jesus Christ. He prayed 4 hours every day before he got really sick, conversing with our Lord. 4 hours!! People are amazed at who he was and at all that he did; but, everything about JP II flowed out of his deep realtionship with Christ. Remember Jesus' words: "whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit".

The second thing, which stems from the first, is that John Paul presented Christ to the world throughout his life, and especially as Pope. He presented Christ in his actions (particularly his love for the poor), his many writings, and his firm and true teachings. Everything that John Paul II taught officially is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Many people loved him and what he taught; so, they love Christ and what He taught. But, some hated JP and what he taught. So, they hate Christ and what He taught.

Along with Mother Teresa, John Paul II is one of the greatest Christian witnesses in the modern era.

Holy Father, thank you for your undying committment to Christ and His Gospel. You will be missed immensely. We pray for you; please pray for us, the Church.

John Paul II, we love you!!!!!!
--------------------------------
Please leave any comments or questions about the Pope, the coverage, the Church, etc.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

In his poem Roman Triptych (2003), Pope John Paul II wrote:

The End is as invisible as the Beginning.
The universe came forth from the Word,and returns to the Word....
And so the generations pass--
Naked they come into the world, and naked they return to the earth from which they were formed.
"From dust you came, and to dust you shall return";
What had shape, is now shapeless.
What was alive is now dead.
What was beautiful is now the ugliness of decay.
And yet, I do not altogether die,
What is indestructible in me remains!...
What is imperishable in me now stands face to face before Him Who Is.

Anonymous said...

dear brother GREG ,

This anonymous is not me.