This just in from the Vatican: The Pope's journey to the Cross

That's been up for a while, but I see it's been recently updated to include 2005 events.

 

I'd call it a journey to Calvary (notice how the years don't end up at the cross, but alongside it).

Obviously it's symbolic of his journey to Christ. I'm not scandalized by it, if that's what you're wondering.

 

Actually, it is very Scriptural. It is what we are all called by Christ to do as true Christians:

"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 16

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. Matthew 27

And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” Mark 15

And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” Luke 14

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” Luke 16

 

It's been said that not long before he died that day, the Pope said 'Ah.... I sought you and now you have come to me!' (Rough quote from memory). Those with him thought he was referring to the youth praying outside.

I would have had a problem if they had put the year 2005 ON the cross or at/ above the cross. Top of the mountain seems to infer a completed journey.

 

What kind of shoes are those that he is wearing???

 

Why shoes anyway? I would have thought they would have covered his feet with his robe..or something. ...but as everything else they have a reason for what they do. Still a mystery to me!

MEE

 

Bob, you crack me up!

Those are clearly the bejeweled pope shoes, decorated with pagan runes. You just don't visit the right websites.

 

Hopefully they were sturdy and comfortable shoes for a man of advanced age.

 

Actually, those are shoes purchased for him by one of his entourage during his visit to Denver in 1995. He walked over 7 miles in one day and, anticipating the need for them, they were purchased. The also were adorned by gold shoelaces, to make them look more "pope-like". (I read this at www.Catholic-Convert.com)

 

Those shoes are an eye catcher.I thought our walk started at the cross.What is scriptural about it?

 

Really? Don't you believe that the goal of every Christian life is to grow closer to Christ, more conformed to His will? To climb up the hill with our own cross?

 

Actually Jason, I'm not sure that is right.

When he was first seen as they brought him out, one of the newscasters I was watching said that the shoes were made in Poland. The same shoemaker made all his shoes after he became pope. They were reddish brown and the shoes that, most commen people wore in his home country when he was growing up. He refused to wear the "Pope slippers" that they normally wear, and opted for the more comfortable and practicle reddish brown leather ones. With soles that had a good tread.

Thats just from memory, but it sounds reasonable.

Peace,

Tam

 

Mike I agree with your comments about growing,and conforming.I am thankful Christ is not on the cross.kathryn could you explain to me how all the verses you posted apply to that picture.thanks RTG

 

As Christians we must always live our lives in the Shadow of the Cross and in the Light of the Empty Tomb. We will never grow in Christ in any other way.

Philip. 3:10 "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, "

 

A similar concern came up regarding a picture of Terri Shiavo on the cross with Christ, to which I posted the following. You also might want to look at JPII's Encyclical on human suffering. I posted a link to it last week let me know if any of you want another.

 

Kiffen,Could you explain to me what you mean by you must live in the shadow of the cross and in the light of the empty tomb to grow.Does this have anything at all to do with the picture of the pope?

 

I think the Apostle Paul explains it in,

Philip. 3:10 "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, "

The Resurrection and the Crucifiction should be central in our life. Forgetting them is to forget how you were redeemed and the great love of Christ.

Menno Simons wrote:

"Do not hope that the time will come when the Word can be preached without the cross. Oh no! It is the Word of the cross and it will remain that to the end. The Word has to be preached with much suffering and sealed with blood. . . . If the head had to suffer torture and pain, how shall his members expect peace? If they called the master of the house a devil, will they not do so to those of his household? Christ said, "You will be hated by all men for my name's sake”

We learn from Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene,Mary the wife of Clopas and John the Apostle when they stood at the foot of the Cross. They did not hide their love for Jesus but boldly stood at the Cross. We as Christians live our lives in the shadow of the Cross of Jesus and ourselves are called to bear our Crosses.

The Anglican theologian John Stott reminds us…
"Jesus is the resurrection of believers who die and the life of believers who live. He promises not that you will just survive, but that you will be resurrected. When he says, “you will never die,” it doesn’t mean that you will escape death, but that death will prove to be a trivial episode, a transition to the fullness of life."(Stott, Cross of Christ, p. 244)

As far as the Picture....I am not endorsing whether I think the Pope went to Heaven or not for only God knows that BUT I think the theological meaning is very nice. The meaning I get is that the Pope's Cross bearing is over and he has entered Heaven after Faith's long journey.

 

It looks to me like another piece of propoganda that exalts the accomplishments of a man, to see him as having achieved all that Christ achieved (which is impossible for any of us). Even if PJP II was all that everyone is making him out to be, he certainly is not worthy of diverting my gaze from Christ, Who is my true inspiration and life-giver.

 

I look at that picture and I am reminded of a comment from a Catholic priest during all of this televised pope coverage. He actually said, "The pope is our substitution for Christ here on Earth".