What does the Holy See?

As I read articles about the new Pope, Francis, I saw the term “Holy See” in reference to him. Unfamiliar with the term, I found it means ‘government,’ as the See of Rome is the central government of the Roman Catholic Church, and he, the Pope, the ruler of that government. Immediately I thought of Isaiah’s words “and the government shall rest on His shoulders”—Jesus’ shoulders, not the Pope’s—(Is. 9:6).

But beyond the formal, legitimate meaning of the term “Holy See”, I couldn’t help but see the play on words—thus, the title of my post “What does the Holy See?” And I don’t mean Pope Francis. I mean ‘you and me’—followers of Jesus. Well, I hope we see God. And, I hope we see what God sees. And, I hope we can see what God is doing. But, one thing I am absolutely certain of: you and I can see as much as, if not more than, a Pope!

This truth is so important to us, especially in these troubled times, when it is so hard to see anything good coming out of wordwide political, social, and moral chaos.  But of course chaos and confusion can also be very personal!  During my time of trouble, the Holy Spirit reminds me of Jesus' promise: “Blessed are the pure in heart [the holy ones] for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).  “What does the holy see?” He sees the unseen. “Didn't I tell you that if you had faith, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).

Has Anything Like This Ever Happened Before?

There was a news story last night answering the question ‘why has the weather been so extreme this year?’ The weather guy blamed it on ‘la nina’ or maybe it was ‘el nino’—whatever. But in the last several years (did it begin with the 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean?) the world has experienced unprecedented suffering from natural disasters.  And in our country too, though to a much lesser degree, of course.

This morning as I was reading in Joel’s little prophesy, these words seemed apocalyptically relevant. After an unprecedented draught and locust invasion destroyed all the crops in the land, Joel asks, Has anything like his ever happened in your days or in the days of your fathers? Then Joel declares it to be a harbinger for the Day of the Lord.  Now I am no “Joel,” and I'm not prophesying the Day of the Lord.   But the Bible says, “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” (Mat 24:8).  Could our generation be seeing the beginning of birth pangs?

Though ‘natural’ disasters are limited in sphere, there appears to be a coming calamity from which no one will escape. It is a financial crisis of ‘biblical proportion.’ For the first time in modern history, a country (Greece) has gone bankrupt. For the first time in our nation's existence, unmanageable debt has shut down a state government (Minnesota). Bill Clinton was interviewed by Wolf Blitzer last weekend; the former president was asked what would be the effects of Congress’ failure to raise the debt ceiling by August 2.  He basically said, “Since it’s never happened before, I don’t know.”  I think I know.  Birth pangs.