Black Smoke

As the College of Cardinals have entered the Conclave the international news has been hard at work covering this historic event. They have discussed who the front-runners are and what odds they are being given. They've talked about the process of the election and why the Cardinals will or will not vote for a certain person. And of course they've talked about the clothes.

I am glad I am not one of these Cardinals. While I hope that I would earnestly and prayerfully listen to who God has called for the position I am sure my own mind would get in the way. I would think about what direction they would likely take the Church and if that is the direction I would like to see it move. I would think about their "marketability" and would an Italian, African, Asian, or American help the Church grow the most.

Or would I be angling for the job myself? Would ambition and vanity get the better of me? It probably would, it has on much smaller scales.

When we are in a position to lead or choose a leader in our own ministries what guides us? Is it the Holy Spirit that motivates our actions or is it our own desires to have things our way that moves us?