The Pope's Arrival

It’s Friday morning, all week Philadelphia has been preparing for the Pope’s arrival. I am headed over to the Convention Center to attend Mass and hear the last keynote speakers Pastor Rick Warren and Cardinal O’Malley. I think it’s interesting that Rick Warren is speaking, I have read his book Purpose Driven Life, which is an excellent, thought-provoking read. I am excited and hopeful that indeed something new is happening as Rick is not Catholic.

I got a late start, so I was surprised when I could not take my normal route, as the barricades where in place and I had to go through security to get to the Convention Center.

To say it was weird, would be an understatement. The City was transformed into zones with perimeter checks and specific points of entry into the safe zone. I have never seen, what I am about to describe to you in America.

Members of the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, Local, State and Federal Law Enforcement Officers, and American Soldiers lined the streets in full garb. With guns, billie clubs and grenades. It reminded me of the German occupation, a war zone.

As I approached the check point, I have to admit, I was a little nervous, but even they had caught what was going on in Philly, the love and kindness they showed as they patiently explained to all what was happening was like a visual contradiction.

They laughed and joked, even letting us keep our Rosaries as they set off the metal detectors.

Once inside the safe zone, the check points faded away, it was business as usual. You see on some level it was like a sporting event…seeing vendors selling Pope shirts, flags, and other memorabilia, some even selling tickets to the WMOF Festival. I wondered if this is what Jerusalem might have looked like on Palm Sunday waiting for Jesus to arrive.

Then there were those non-Catholics who were giving out Bible tracts and striking up conversation with any who would engage. I often did, some I got to know quite well and developed a mutual respect for one another and a greater understanding that we are all called to witness the Faith to everyone we meet.

With all these thoughts and images in my head, I enter the Conference room and am overwhelmed once again at the sheer number of people attending Mass. Preparing their hearts and minds to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist so that He may be present among us through us.

Listening to Rick Warren, I am convinced that now is the acceptable time to put away our Doctrinal differences and focus on our common love of Jesus Christ ministering to one another in Spirit and Truth.

A New Evangelization.

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