Aaron and Hur... and Benedict

"... As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight.  Moses' hands, however, grew tired , so they put a rock in place for him to sit on.  Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that the hands remained steady till sunset.  And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword."  Exodus 17:11-13

   The image presented in this morning's Office of Readings, I think, is a timeless icon for ministry in the Church, and a wonderful image to consider as we look into the upcoming Sede Vacante of the Holy See.  As a priest and pastor, it is the people who stand with you, holding your arms up in those moments of fatigue, doubt, and trial that help you remember not only the limitations of your own strength, but the providence of God to provide.  All the more, how our bishops and our pope needs people standing with him, holding his arms to provide the strength to bear their offices well.

   Pope Benedict has rececived this spiritual support from the entire Church, and he has needed it.  Every time we celebrate Mass, he is mentioned during the Eucharistic Prayer... both as a reminder to pray for him, but even more importantly as a reminder of the unity of the Church we express in and with him before Christ.  Now as he steps back from the papal office, he sees his role as one standing, holidng up the arms of his successor... I presume that popes do intercede for their successors before the throne of God as they go on to their eternal reward, but Benedict's work is being done with not only incredible humility (recognizing he doesn't have the physical ability to hold the office any more), but with increidble spiritual intimacy... anyone who believes that, in this world, they have the ability to do the spiritual labor of supporting the Church and the one who will be the new pope, while still in this clumsy, limited human condition we all experience, has to be a true prayer warrior.  As I said in a previous post, for Benedict to accept this role for the Church places a spotlight on the thousands of religious and faithful everywhere who spend their days hidden in deep, profound, effective prayer for the holiness and deliverance of the Church.