Today is the Feast of Pope Saint John XXIII. He is remembered as the pope who began the process of Vatican II. There are those who look back on the implementation of Vatican II in the United States and say he was at fault. Personally, I like to think that he looked into the congregation of distracted members and longed to bring to them the fullness of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. The people at that time did not engage in a dialogue with the priest and lift up their hearts to the Lord together as they do now. The people bore witness to the dialogue between the priest and the servers. Bearing witness without a full understanding of the greatness of the event unfolding can lead to straying thoughts and idle hands. Our beloved Papa wanted more for his flock.
God Himself has wanted more for His people from the beginning. There was a time when the leaders of Israel were doing a very poor job of leading the people to holiness. The people were distracted and lost like sheep scattered without a shepherd. The Lord looked with pity on His people. He decided He alone would lead them, love them, and keep them safe. He could no longer delegate the responsibility to others, because there were no others willing to answer the call. It was time to make changes to the way things have always been, so that the people could know the fullness of God's love.
I Myself will pasture My sheep; I Myself will give them rest, says the Lord God. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly. Ez 34: 15-16
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