A NEW POPE'S FOCUS: SUBSTANCE OR IDENTITY?

What is the biggest question facing the one who steps to the head of the Catholic Church in the days ahead? Is it finding how to be stronger in administration of problems plaguing the religion in the past couple of decades? Will the highest goal be bringing illumination to the questions of celibacy, female participation in high clergy, the misdeeds and inappropriate behaviour of priests across the world, contraception, inclusive practice among all people, or other high profile issues? I watch with historical awareness the ceremony and pageantry of the treatment, reverence, and awe that is asked for by the movement of this man through the crowds and streets. It is to draw the attention of the crowd, believers and non-believers alike, to the presumed height of the power and position of this individual and the role and place he holds. He is treated as royalty might have been many centuries ago. He is dressed with finery, and lavish spectacle. And why? It is to establish in the minds of those watching that here is power, real power, backed by God. Here is holy power. Here is power held by one to whom everyone should listen. What is spoken by this man shall be understood as coming from the mind of God. Herein, lies the biggest question, perhaps, the biggest one for all Christianity, and for all of Christian thought today, if there is ever to be progress forward for relevancy in the church. Is identity more important than substance? If identity is established as powerful, infallible, or even divine, does not this give one a position of unquestioned status? Does this not, if done in a big way, make others presume that whatever is said or done will be the real substance for life and will be what all should hear? From this approach, it is the identity and the establishing of that identity, the preservation of that identity, that is of primal importance, for substance is merely the decree coming from the power associated with the identity. Is identity more important than substance? The role of the Pope goes back to a poor fisherman from the shores of Lake Galilee. He had a ministry among the people, a leadership role that carried on the ministry of Jesus. Was that a role centring upon substance or identity? Identity comes from powerful substance. Powerful substance can create powerful identity. Powerful substance can create powerful paradigmatic change. Progressive, invigorating, dynamic change and transformation can happen from powerful substance, and can result in a powerful identity. Identity can help continue the holding of power. When this happens, the substance can leak away. There is nothing that guarantees substance continues. In fact, to hold power, and especially power that comes from identity established firmly in the minds of people, change can become the enemy. An organization can reach a place where established identity and the power that passes along with it over generations becomes the main focus. Losing any whiff or segment of a powerful identity established is many, many times more supremely important than worrying about substance. So, will the new pope even raise the question? Of course, identity is more important than substance. We already know all the substance. We have had almost 2000 years to figure it out. We have the answers. We have the power. We have the authority. We have the right to declare ourselves the brokers for God on this earth. We dispense all that God gives. We stand between the people and God. And we have the stage and performance of centuries to identify ourselves as the authority of God on earth. And, the new pope will step into the lead role of this long playing drama.

He will accept the identity, and all its power, all its glory, the crown, the ring, and the throne. He will be wrapped in the robes of an office that has lifted identity above substance for many centuries down through the ages of history. But, which is more important? Is substance more important than identity? One could say that substance without any power that comes from identity will be useless. Good ideas, better ideas, great ideas, are all sure to be lost in the shuffle, destined to be forever undiscovered, unless they become identified, unless they find an identity that can empower. Power becomes the most important tool. Power is the enabler. If you have a great idea, something of real substance, it has to find an identity to get on the road of becoming empowered. Identity can invite power on board. And powerful identity can grow to staggering levels. This happens the fastest throughout history's stories when great substance brings new paradigms of thought to the table. New ways of understanding truth brings change in unprecedented fashion. And the identification of power can change rapidly, too. Every king or monarch would fear anyone or thing or group that could unsettle the balance of power. If you have power, the game's focus becomes keeping it, and not doing anything that will lose it, or even lessen it. So, a new pope, comes into history's picture, accepting a powerful identity, and we ask the foolish question whether that identity is more important, whether preserving the power that it gives and has, is higher on the list of focus, than entertaining ideas of great substance, ideas that might bring paradigmatic change into religion of the 21st century. Is identity more important than substance? Do you understand history and the story of the church down through the centuries? Do you understand the relationship of power and authority that comes from identity? Is substance more important than identity? I would hope so. In this world, as an individual, I would hope that being a person of substance and depth, would always be the higher goal, the first choice, before fame, identity, riches and power. But, if you were appointed the next pope, could your agenda really place substance ahead of the massive identity drama that has become the tradition of the Vatican. How far could you go? How far would you go? Christians believe that Jesus was incarnated into a fully human life. The problem of Docetism teaches us he didn't just look human, appear to be human, but he was one of us. For around three decades, his identity is thought to have been as a carpenter from a humble small town in the hills above Galilee. At some point, he had a message to give to the people of his Jewish culture, and he started a ministry. Without identity, and without any apparent authority, he began sharing. He shared substance. People listened to the substance. It contained new truths, new revelations, new ideas about God and the reality of 1st century life. It was substance that made a difference. It was substance that was relevant. It was substance that addressed the issues and problems that faced them everyday, and impacted every aspect of their lives. From nothing, without previous identity, things happened rapidly. Healing happened. Transformations occurred. And out of great paradigmatic substance, identity began to emerge. A movement began to unfold. And with the first glimpse of identity, the first rise of power began to grow. I would pause to ask the question, is substance more important than identity? And I would declare that Jesus, the incarnated divine Son of God, as he started his ministry as a human being stepping into that position, focused entirely on the substance of the disclosures that he revealed. There was no hint of depending upon people recognizing his identity. It was all substance over any worry

about identity. Ironically, when we tell the story of Jesus, as has been done now for almost two millenniums, we focus on the identity of Jesus most, not his substance, the substance that he shared in his ministry. Almost everyone in the 21st Century, if they could imagine Jesus appearing again, in a new incarnation sequel, would see him dressed, treated, and envisioned as the popes have been in recent times. Jesus would be paraded before huge crowds with a crown, a throne, a sceptre, and long flowing white robes, and cheered by the crowds for being the divine ruler. It would be all about identity. Because when everything is settled, when you know all the answers, substance becomes just the doctrines and the rules already established. Substance becomes the tradition that carries on through the power that is given to the identity. Substance is no longer the main focus, or the only focus. Identity, and maintaining its power and position, becomes the focus. But what about the problems that are all around us? Change can only happen when new substance is introduced. And when you switch your focus to substance to solve problems, and introduce the possibility of change, you challenge the status quo of tradition, of power, and even, ultimately the sacred entity of identity. Jesus did it. Jesus focused on substance. He introduced a new ministry of substance without public identity giving even the smallest hint of power. Can a new pope let substance even begin to compete with the giant power of tradition and identity that controls his position? I would love to see it happen. I would love for the forgotten substance of the ministry of Jesus become the focus of the one who leads with such a powerful identity today. Jesus ministered to those who were outsiders of the religion of his day. He told the masses that no one was outside the reach of God's love and favour. He spoke of an inclusive love that was available and accessible in a God-closeness that he modelled in his own life. In a world where God-estrangement was rampant, he brought great transformation of attitudes and awareness to almost everyone he met. It was a spiritual enlightenment that changed lives and made a difference. It was substance of spiritual ideas and leadership that made an impact still continuing to this day. But something happened. The substance of Jesus was quickly overshadowed by the identity that became the heart of the story. Paul began writing letters to the churches and giving theological interpretations to all that had happened in the Jesus Experience, his ministry and death and resurrection. The identity of Jesus became the central focus of the story and message of the followers. Jesus was and is the divine Son of God. Identity. Jesus was and is the Saviour of the world. Identity. Jesus was the Lamb of God, given up to death, for the shedding of blood, for the salvation of the world from its sins for any who would believe. Identity. Identity is a powerful role to have in this world. In the early years of the church's formation, Jesus was given identity roles. Those roles have assumed authority and power and control well above any substance one can glean from his remarkable ministry. Even when it comes to Jesus, identity seems to want to have more importance than substance. Who you are seems vitally more important than what is the content of your substance. Your role played out before people is the main focus for all to grasp. How could a new pope step into such a massive role with such a powerful identity, and even dare to think about new paradigmatic substance that could revitalize old tradition? Maybe there would be too much to lose. Identity or substance, where would you find yourself?