A PARADIGM SHIFT

I used to like baking cakes. With the help of Duncan Hines, I’d whip up a chocolate or white cake about once a month. Meticulously, I’d follow the recipe: mix three eggs, half a cup of oil, one cup of milk with cake mix and bake for exactly 32 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, my emphasis on following the recipe with precision has taken away from the fun of cake making. In fact, my futile attempts at baking bread from scratch over these past few months have been much more satisfying than creating masterpieces with a no-fail cake mix.

Insisting on cake recipes reminds me of the comments Pope Francis made yesterday in his interview with La Civilta Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit magazine.

"We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible," he said. "The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time."

Pope Francis reminds us that insisting on the recipe is not always necessary or helpful. In fact, his comments reflect his desire to move the Catholic Church’s focus from doctrine and rules to love and relationships.

I’m sure he hasn’t been reading my blog however his recent statements appear to be in answer to the open letter I wrote to him last week.

Pope Francis, I will continue to pray for you and your mission as you strive to try to shift our paradigm in much the same way as Jesus tried two thousand years ago.