Today’s Scripture Reading (January
23, 2014): Micah 3
In October 1032, Pope Benedict IX
began his unique papal reign. At the time of his ascension Benedict was
probably only 11 or 12 years old. He rose to the post not because he was suited
for it, but rather because the position had been obtained for him by his
Father. Both Pope Benedict VIII and Pope John XIX were his uncles. Although
Benedict was Orthodox in his beliefs, it seems that his practice did not follow
what the boy believed. His reign marked a dark time for the papacy. Pope Victor
III, who reigned about forty years after Benedict IX, wrote of “his rapes, murders and other unspeakable acts. His life as a pope was so
vile, so foul, so execrable, that I shudder to think of it.”
But what really sets Benedict IX apart is that he is the only Pope to
rule more than once (in Benedict's case, he was made Pope on three different
occasions.) His first chance to sit in the Papal chair was from 1032 until
1044. At that point, Benedict IX was forced out of office and replaced by Pope
Sylvester III. But Sylvester III was only Pope for a little more than a month.
Charged with bribing his way into office, he was deposed and then
excommunicated by Benedict IX, who then regained the Papal office. Benedict’s
second reign as Pope started in April of 1045, but his reign would also be very
short lived (lasting only about a month). While it appears that Benedict IX
charged Sylvester with bribing his way into office, in May of 1945 Benedict
himself openly sold the papacy to his Godfather who became Pope Gregory VI. But
it appears that he regretted his decision because in 1047, Benedict IX returned
to force Gregory out of the Chair of Peter so that he could sit in it for his
third reign, which this time would last about six months. But in the confusion
of Benedict’s return, there would actually be three men who claimed to be the
rightful heir of the papacy. Finally Benedict IX would be forced out of the
chair of Peter and excommunicated from the church (although that
excommunication was lifted after his death on claims that Benedict had repented
of his behavior as Pope so that he could be buried on ground that had been
consecrated by the church.) But the legacy of Benedict IX is that he only
seemed to want the Chair of Peter for what he could get out of it. There were
no thoughts in his mind about how he could serve the greater church.
Micah describes a similar condition that seems to have existed during
his days. It was the highest crime that Micah could think of – when men who had
been charged with serving the people God did so only for personal gain. And a
warning for all of us who call ourselves Christians. We are followers of Christ
only as far as we are willing to serve those around us. Our faith is not for
personal gain, but rather that as humble servants we are involved in the work
of making this world a better place for everyone – regardless of faith or sex
or race – to live.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Micah 4
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