After the election of Pope Benedict XVI as the successor of St. Peter, Francis Cardinal George was interviewed about the election process.  One of the questions he was asked had to do with the attached picture.  The interviewer asked the Cardinal, “what was it you were looking at?”  Cardinal George said he was looking at all the ancient ruins of Rome from past emperors and empires that ran Europe for centuries.  He said he was reflecting on how all that remains of those great empires are ruins and museums; however, they are in St. Peters square celebrating the successor of St. Peter himself after a long 2,000 year history.  

That, to me anyway, is the best proof of Jesus’ resurrection.  No other group on earth with a single leader has lasted as long as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  Even with our frail humanity and terrible centuries worth of mistakes, we are still here.  If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead and leave us the Eucharist and the other Sacraments to heal our woundedness, then this whole thing would have died 1,500 years ago at least.  Nations have come and go, democracies and dictatorships have come and go, other religions have come and go; but the Catholic Church has lasted through it all because we have the risen Jesus leading us.

I’m not sure why this struck me today enough to write it down for the website; but I felt the Holy Spirit moving me to do so.  You can listen to my homily from this past weekend here, where I briefly mention that doubt in the Christian life is normal.  If we ever find ourselves doubting the resurrection of Jesus, just ask yourself why else would the Church still be around if something, or someone, divine wasn’t running it?  

May the risen Lord continue to reign in your hearts.