The Spirit and Pope John Paul II

“It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” (John 6: 63)
On January 26, 1998, I confided to my journal the following reflection:
“Pope John Paul II concluded a historic visit to Cuba yesterday. Most news commentators stressed his age and his feeble health. As I watched him on the television, I could see that his hands were trembling and that his flesh was indeed weak. But only a blind man could miss the fact that his spirit is very strong.
On the 1st of May, 2011, Pope John Paul II will be beatified a Blessed, one step towards full canonization. The world would watch in awe as it did during his funeral Mass. One can argue that 80% of his magnificent achievement was recording in the years of declining health and feebleness of the flesh. For those who follow salvation history, this is not a great mystery. “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer.” God has always used weak flesh to achieve great things. Think of Mother Teresa!