Pope Francis, at 77, seems determined to bring about some pastoral changes, where possible, that would make the Church doors as wide open to all people as possible. He expressed this great wish throughout his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.

To this end, he came out with a questionnaire sent worldwide to provide food for thought to all bishops participating in the unprecedented extraordinary Synod of Bishops, dealing for the second time within a year, with the family.

Today many Catholics look upon the current Pope as if he were ‘the only solution’ for the drop-outs in the Church. They are desperate for reform according to their tastes. They are expecting the Pope to reform the Church but are not ready to reform themselves. Such a disposition basically demonstrates a lack of goodwill.

This was more or less the same situation prevalent at the time of Christ, who brought about a reform of Jewish law and way of life.

The Jews expected some sort of political reform from the Messiah but Jesus was clear with them: “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them”.

He met people and mingled with them, announcing the good news. He healed their sick and converted sinners of goodwill. He redeemed humanity. Despite all this, many Jews wanted Christ to reform his message and not their own way of life.

This state of affairs limpidly appears on the occasion when Jesus drew near Jerusalem and wept over it. He expressed his deep sorrow: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”

‘You would not’ clearly depicts no goodwill.

If Jesus were here among us in today’s world, would he repeat his weeping and admonition in the face of those who are seeking Church reform without having the goodwill to reform themselves according to God’s law?