Who but us?

Love is man's first and constant vocation. Love is the summary of the whole Bible. Love is the secret of the saints, the necessary way to God.

A reflection from Father Tudgay for the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

The world and, specifically, American Catholics and non-Catholics alike are still in a bit of shock at the news on Thursday of the election of the first US-born pope. On Thursday afternoon, the indication of the conclusion of a successful conclave resulted in the customary (and theatrical!) “smoke signal” from the Sistine Chapel. Shortly after, the world was introduced to the 267th successor to Saint Peter, whose life is both familiar and relatable to yours and mine. Pope Leo XIV stood on the loggia at the edifice of Saint Peter’s Basilica and greeted the world with a simple, authentic smile. His countenance gave evidence to a quiet confidence both in the Church’s wisdom and a life dedicated to Jesus Christ. 

Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the apostolic journey of Paul and Barnabas, preaching the Good News of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Central to their message was the point that Jesus emphasizes in the Gospel passage: love one another! And this command isn’t given in a vacuum or in a way that’s vague, but in a way that is illustrated by Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. Paul and Barnabas’ experience of Jesus Christ was life-changing. It led them to completely abandon everything that they had known before and forge a new way of living in Christ. For Paul and Barnabas, their new life in Christ meant that they needed to share Christ with others, for the salvation of the entire known world. 

The story of Paul and Barnabas and the story of Pope Leo XIV and my story and your story, occurring at different times and places, all draw from the common thread of fidelity in Christ. And Jesus calls us exactly as we are… with our strengths and struggles and history of mistakes and forgiveness. Our personal story is the story of salvation and who but us to carry it forward?