Why the Church now? When it seems to be falling apart, huge numbers losing faith and walking away. When the news and discussions seem only to be negative, condemning and petty that such a great monster of an institution is on the brink of collapse: it serves them right, many seem to say. My, have the mighty fallen ... all the dark secrets come spilling out. It's a big fight at the family table.
Mea culpa. A confession is always good, never easy. Huge human institutions become corrupt for that is in their nature: power, wealth, status. We were warned of these temptations by the very Son of Man who came to free us of them. All great civilisations have had their demise: Egypt, Rome, Byzantium. Some are still buried in the dust. Others are backdrops to modern living, their memory stirring pride and nationalism, separateness and exclusion. Do we expect our modern civilisations to last forever? They will not, as that is the nature of the universe as reflected in the life of man. However, the knowledge that God is always with us, shall always love us and can always remind us of what true humanity is, this is eternal, even in forgetfulness. Whatever happens politically or economically or environmentally affects us. To some extend we have control. But this is not important. These human activities of survival and growth may be necessary or seen as essential, but they have historically failed to be the Truth behind 'love God and love thy neighbour'. While the latest empires rise, so too shall people suffer. Only when these people are cared for can we become who we truly are, selfless, the image of a god who showed us his face on Earth, the King and Saviour who washed his friends' feet, students of the Teacher who gave up his life to show us not to fear death and not to fear the politics that might put us to death.
Be love. The greatest challenge i shall ever face. Why the Church now? Even in what may seem to be its darkest hour, it still teaches me how to love my brother, how to forgive, how to accept grace, how to collaborate on revision and how to bless that which is imperfect. We come together in His name, not for any worldly pleasure. This reminds me why life is so precious and how i can truly live it.
Oremus:
I pray for the Church, ecclesia, for all those people who together make up 'church'. Let us listen in stillness to His voice. Let us know without a shadow of doubt what He is advising each one of us to do. Let us be strong enough to drop the loads we already bear, the self-interest and fear, to boldly face the tasks necessary for us. Let us get closer to Him. Let us learn to let the cycles of life, the birth, growth and death of all earthbound things, turn on and on and on, that we may be unaffected and stand in the Light of peace and eternal love. Amen.
Deo gratias.
Mea culpa. A confession is always good, never easy. Huge human institutions become corrupt for that is in their nature: power, wealth, status. We were warned of these temptations by the very Son of Man who came to free us of them. All great civilisations have had their demise: Egypt, Rome, Byzantium. Some are still buried in the dust. Others are backdrops to modern living, their memory stirring pride and nationalism, separateness and exclusion. Do we expect our modern civilisations to last forever? They will not, as that is the nature of the universe as reflected in the life of man. However, the knowledge that God is always with us, shall always love us and can always remind us of what true humanity is, this is eternal, even in forgetfulness. Whatever happens politically or economically or environmentally affects us. To some extend we have control. But this is not important. These human activities of survival and growth may be necessary or seen as essential, but they have historically failed to be the Truth behind 'love God and love thy neighbour'. While the latest empires rise, so too shall people suffer. Only when these people are cared for can we become who we truly are, selfless, the image of a god who showed us his face on Earth, the King and Saviour who washed his friends' feet, students of the Teacher who gave up his life to show us not to fear death and not to fear the politics that might put us to death.
Be love. The greatest challenge i shall ever face. Why the Church now? Even in what may seem to be its darkest hour, it still teaches me how to love my brother, how to forgive, how to accept grace, how to collaborate on revision and how to bless that which is imperfect. We come together in His name, not for any worldly pleasure. This reminds me why life is so precious and how i can truly live it.
Oremus:
I pray for the Church, ecclesia, for all those people who together make up 'church'. Let us listen in stillness to His voice. Let us know without a shadow of doubt what He is advising each one of us to do. Let us be strong enough to drop the loads we already bear, the self-interest and fear, to boldly face the tasks necessary for us. Let us get closer to Him. Let us learn to let the cycles of life, the birth, growth and death of all earthbound things, turn on and on and on, that we may be unaffected and stand in the Light of peace and eternal love. Amen.
Deo gratias.
