Jesus’ Generals

Loving and following all of our popes  

Matthew 9:32-38  

Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”   

          One of the most fascinating periods of American history is the Civil War, and nothing fascinates me personally more than Lincoln’s frustration finding a general who could win the war. There was George B. McClellan, who wanted to out-maneuver the enemy instead of out-fight him. There was John Pope, and Ambrose Burnside and Joseph Hooker, all good men but inadequate generals. There was George G. Meade, who actually had the Confederate Army on the ropes after the victory at Gettysburg, but again failed to finish the fight. It wasn’t until Lincoln appointed Ulysses S. Grant to command all Union armies that he found the right man for the job.   

          But do you remember who Lincoln originally wanted to lead the Northern Army? It was General Robert E. Lee, who became the Commander of the Southern Army instead. Now, I first learned about Robert E. Lee by watching the T.V. show “Dukes of Hazard” where Bo and Luke Duke drove a car they named “General Lee.” An awesome car named for an awesome general. But Lee’s real claim to fame was not having a car named for him, but in being the best general on the field, bar none, and Lincoln knew that. Lee once said, “It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it.” Lee was not only a great general, he was a good man.  Lincoln had a hard time finding the best general for the Union Army; it’s always hard to find good leaders.  

          In the gospel today, Jesus faces the same frustration of finding good leaders. The Lord looks upon the masses of men and women who are following him, much like Lincoln must have looked out at the Union Army: “At the sight of the crowds his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned like sheep without a shepherd.” And how did Jesus fare in finding generals for his troops? Well, his first twelve generals weren’t much better than Lincoln’s; indeed, one of them even betrayed Jesus: General Judas. It is never easy to find great leaders, whether it’s to lead the Union Army or to lead the Church Militant.  

          But we have to be careful not to take this analogy too far; like all analogies, this one also “limps,” meaning it breaks down. That is, we cannot compare too closely Lincoln’s generals with Jesus’ generals, especially the popes. They’re not the same. Sometimes we say “Pope John Paul II was a great pope, but I don’t like Pope Francis.” Or, “Benedict XVI was better than Pope Paul VI.” Have you ever done that? Me, too, but that’s wrong. I remember after Benedict XVI was elected as pope asking a friend of mine, Danny Hartnedy, if he liked him. Danny replied, “I love him; he’s the Holy Father.” What a great answer; put me in my place.  You see, each pope has gifts and talents and each one is precisely the right man for the job to be Jesus’ General. Therefore a good Catholic should refrain from publicly criticizing or comparing popes because each one has been given the charism to lead the Church with special help from the Holy Spirit.  

          And don’t forget how fortunate we are today: we actually enjoy the leadership of two popes to guide us!  

          Praised be Jesus Christ!