Worried About the Church? Become a Child
I’m tired of the grumbling, grousing, griping and gossip.
Why are there so many Catholics who are down on Pope Francis, biting their nails over the Synod on the Family and searching the skies for signs of the world’s end?
To be sure we live in uncertain times.
Read history. When were the times certain?
To be sure the church seems to be under threat–undermined by corruption and heresy within and attacked by persecution and infidels without.
Read your history. When was it otherwise?
To be under attack, to witness our church’s life as “the long defeat” is par for the course. It’s the default setting. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be.
Its a sign of our authenticity, or were you forgetting that?
Where is the faith of the faithful? God is with his church. Did you really think the gates of hell would prevail against her? Did you really think she would be forgotten by the Holy Spirit? Did you really think he would abandon his bride?
Are you upset that Cardinal Kasper and others burble away on the fringes of heresy and schism? There have always been disputes in the church. Are you dismayed that a “liberal mafia” may have pressured Pope Benedict from office, schemed to put Pope Francis on the throne and is planning a progressive coup in the church? So it has always been. There has never been a time when the Vatican was free from political machinations, corruption, deceit, human pride and ambition.
Have you forgotten the apostles themselves who disputed who among them would be the greatest? Have you forgotten Judas who betrayed the Lord and Peter himself who denied him thrice?
Are you worried that Pope Francis is a leftist, that the secular media are using him for their own nefarious ends, that he is sometimes confusing in his teachings and that he does not fit all of your own expectations for the papacy?
So what? Where’s your faith?
Did you want your Catholic faith to simply bolster your own prejudices, support your own conclusions, uphold your personal taste and make you feel comfortable about all things ineffably you?
On the contrary, if the Pope is shaking you up and making you think, that’s a good thing isn’t it? If the successor of Peter rocks the boat isn’t that part of his job too? If he preaches and lives the gospel in a subversive and disturbing way why do you think that you alone should be the only one who remains undisturbed? Maybe you should learn to think outside the box a bit more and try to understand where he’s coming from rather than judge things from where you are.
If the Catholic Church isn’t everything you want it to be just now, well have you thought that maybe you’re not everything the church wants you to be?
Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Stay close to Jesus and Mary. That’s what the church is supposed to do anyway: bring you to Jesus. If the church does that be not being the happy home that you would like her to be, then that’s okay.
Pray to be more like a child–like the child who brought his lunch to Jesus for it to be multiplied or like the child he gathered up in an embrace.
Check out the illustration for this post. What is your response? Do you judge this picture and say, “Geesh, what a sentimental, piece of devotional tackiness!”
Or do you admit the sentimentality and kitsch and say, “That’s ok. It’s a child. I’ll accept the art as a child too.”
Come to the church like that little child. Leave your distrust at the door.
Have faith. Love the church. Love the Body of Christ, but go beyond the church to Jesus Christ himself for he is your true goal, your destiny and your desire.”
