May 18, 2008

 

Pondering the Papal Visit

I was so excited when I learned that I would be present at JFK airport when Pope Benedict arrived in New York. For months we had been praying for all the graces which the Lord wanted to pour out during the Papal visit. As we awaited the arrival of Shepherd One, a really good orchestra from a Brooklyn high school was playing. At one point they were playing a really intense piece of music. I leaned over to the friar next to me to comment on how nervous I was becoming. Just at that moment, the conductor's baton slipped out of his hand, flew through the air and bonked me on the head! I suspected that there were prank-playing angels in attendance.

The plane landed and taxied to us in a hanger. Portable stairs were rolled up to the three doors on the plane. Then Pope Benedict stepped out into the sunlight. It was a truly moving experience. With his white clothing and white hair glowing in the light I felt as though I was seeing the Transfiguration. He was like the moon reflecting the sun, like the face of Moses radiating the glory of the Lord (Exodus 34), like the shining light of John the Baptist (John 5:35), like Jesus the Light  shining through the Pope as promised in Matt 5:14, 13:43 and Phil 2:15. Proverbs 4:18 says that "The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the full day." The Pope glowed with the light of Jesus Christ. Even brighter were the beautiful words he gave us.

God bless the Pope!

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR