"He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus." – Mark 10:50
Last month I had the great privilege and blessing to attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The week was filled with moving liturgies and excellent presentations, capped off with a visit by Pope Francis.
Approximately one million people packed the Ben Franklin Parkway for the Papal Mass that Sunday morning, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the Supreme Pontiff. My group was fortunate enough to secure a spot right up against the barrier alongside the road that the Pope was going to be traveling down. After several hours of camping out and patiently waiting, the entourage of police and security vehicles finally motored down the Parkway, followed by our Holy Father in the Popemobile.
As he drove closer, the crowd cheered and clamored all around us. It helped me understand what a dam must feel like as water wells up behind it. Just imagine thousands of outstretched hands holding cellphones and maneuvering to snap a pic of the Pope.
All these people were reaching out, crying out, because like the blind man in this Sunday’s Gospel passage, they wanted to see. Who did they want to see? The Pope, sure, but only because he represents Someone Else. Whether they knew it or not, they wanted to see the Pope because ultimately they are attracted to the Face of Christ.
You see, Jesus works vicariously through His priestly people. All the Baptized participate in the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and are called to make Him present to the world. However, certain individuals are called to do this in a particular way and are ordained to the ministerial priesthood. The fullness of these Holy Orders resides in the office of Bishop.
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the head of the college of Bishops. Predictably then, as the person in charge of vicariously making Christ known to the world, the Pope also goes by another title: the Vicar of Christ (Vicarius Christi).
So, the countless people assembled in Philadelphia that Sunday afternoon did indeed encounter Christ vicariously through the Pope. They also encountered Him in the midst of each another, gathered as the priestly People of God and Body of Christ.
Above all, they encountered Him in the Holy Eucharist. After the Pope consecrated the bread and wine, hundreds of priests lined the streets to distribute the Blessed Sacrament to the thronging masses. Just as before, an innumerable chorus of hands stretched over the barrier. It was humbling to behold. They were begging for the Bread of Life, like countless others who have done so down through the ages, ever since Bartimaeus first threw aside his cloak and ran to the One for whom we all long.
Lord, fill our hungry hearts with the Bread from Heaven. Bless our Holy Father, Pope Francis and make us more and more into your priestly people, capable of being witnesses to your love in the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord, amen.
