Of Tax Collectors and Tolerance

But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”  (Luke 5:30)

I miss Pope Francis.

I know that I can “look him up” on-line or in the news media anytime I want, but it’s not the same. He was in our home, and every morning was like running down the stairs and opening up new presents on Christmas. Who was he visiting? What did he say? How did he surprise everyone today? How will he, once again, leave me in tears by his gentle caress, his incomparable smile, his soulful and loving eyes, his words full of compassion, his inspiring preaching which left me thinking, wide awake, into the wee hours of each night.

He taught me so much, and I love him so much, it’s almost scary.

But I have to confess that I had my “tax collector” moments. When President Obama gushed over him and complimented the Catholic contributions to the United States, I just wanted the Pope to say, “Oh yeah? So why are you picking on my Little Sisters, you big bully?!”

And when it was obvious that Nancy Pelosi couldn’t be more thrilled to stand on the Truman balcony near the Pope, I just wanted him to turn to her and say, “Catholic? Since when does a Catholic support an organization which aborts millions of babies and chops them up like so much meat in a grinder?”

Based upon the social media comments, it seems a lot of us had “tax collector” moments. We second-guessed every statement, every meeting, each nuance of his jammed-packed visit. All of us seemed to have welcomed him with a preconceived notion of who he was and what he should do. Then, at the end of it all, just when we thought we had, once again, neatly packaged him into a wonderful, clearly definable, totally embraceable Pope package, we hear that he met with Kim Davis, the woman who refused to issue marriage licenses to couples of the same sex.

Suddenly, the Pope who was the sweetheart of “who am I to judge?” became the subject of second guesses. Certainly he wouldn’t really support this woman, married four times, who was the antithesis of compassion toward gay couples! This had to be a set up by conservative bishops so that he could be “forced” into making a clear statement against gay marriage! Surely, this Pope, who, only days before, was considered one of the sharpest and most astute players in world affairs, wouldn’t suddenly fall into this trap! It had to be a trick, or she was just one of many in the room at the time, and her lawyer exaggerated the story! I can understand talking to prisoners and all, but how could he talk with her?

Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.” (Matthew 21:31)