Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter Years 1 and 2 2025

Title

Whoever Receives the One I Send Receives Me

Outline

We have a tendency to judge everyone

We judges our neighbors and our colleagues, which is problematic, for we are not God, as James ch 4 points out, but that can be self-protective at times. We judge officials, appointed and elected, who lead and direct us, which makes society rebellious, but at least we need to eventually make a judgment as to whether they or their elected boss continue in office. But most problematic we judge Church officials whom God has appointed, not us, and worst of all we tend to judge the Pope. Do you like the new Pope?

God points out that we should receive those he appoints

Acts points out how God sent judges, gave them Saul, removed Saul and raised up David. How God kept his line in existence and raised up Jesus as its climax, a savior, first sending John who proclaimed a baptism of repentance. Each was appointed to their role by God and when one of them messed up badly enough, God could remove them, for God could see the heart which we cannot.

So when a person of this type is sent we are to receive them. “Whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

We receive the person as the bearer of their office. True, some of the lower level individuals whom we see doing evil we may respectfully report to the bishop, but report with a “this seems strange” attitude not a final judgment.

When it comes to the Pope there is no one higher.

I happen to be impressed with Pope Leo, but I were not, I would still receive him. Judgment of him is above my pay grade and I leave that in the hands of God. Even an evil office holder such as Caiaphas could prophesy and was to be respected; the Pharisaic scribes were to be obeyed since they sat in Moses’ seat even if their behavior was not to be copied.

So let us receive Pope Leo whatever our feelings. When we struggle with something he says or does, rather than judging say, “I am still trying to understand.” or “That is above my pay grade.” or “I know nothing about that.” and continue to treat him with respect and reverence. He is the Pope; he is the sacrament of the unity of the Church; he is the Vicar of Christ in the Chair of St Peter.

And to all I say in the words of Jesus, “If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.”