The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
So ask the master of the harvest
to send out more laborers for his harvest. - Matthew 9:37-38
A few days ago, the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with survivors of priestly abuse. Each person he met privately with for 30 minutes. He then begged them all for forgiveness. Some in the media have quickly condemned the delay of this action and others condemned that he hasn't done anything.
I love my Church. I think that I may love my Church more than anything on Earth. I think I only Jesus more than I love my Church. The Church is the bride of Christ. I love my Church.
It is very difficult for me to read stories and commentaries that are full of hostility and aggression to the Church. The Catholic Church encounters so much anger every day. I think it is quite disheartening to see that there are people who actively persecute Christians, especially Catholics. The current struggles in Israel, Iraq, Syria, Ethiopia, North Korea, China and many other countries on the issue of religion and religious freedom should constantly remind us that our world is hostile to the name of Jesus.
My Church is my home. Through all of the trials and trepidations that I have had to encounter as an adult, the Church has been the rock and source of constancy in my life. I come to know and recognize the frailty of the human condition. I have come to know the harsh reality that comes with the inconsistency of support of people. I have, however, come to know the unfailing love of Jesus through the working of the Holy Spirit through the Church in my own life. This is not to say that I have encountered well intentioned people along the way, but they all form or conform either to the Church or to some sort of secular living. I have had people in the Church let me down. I have had people in the Church be everything to me and still continue to be so. There are people who have never been Catholic, or Christian, and they have let me down. There are people in my life who are not Christian but have demonstrated a deep care and regard for me that is reminiscent of the Church for me.
The Church is full of people who are sinners and hypocrites. This man is a sinner and a hypocrite. It is not in our sinfulness that makes us who we are, but only in the grace of God that gives us hope for an eternity in splendor. The beauty of forgiveness is that when we participate in forgiving somebody, we ourselves are forgiven. And God smiles. At the same time in asking for forgiveness, we take ownership and accountability of the sins we have committed. Whatever we may have to do to reconcile ourselves to our sin is the temporal reality of our fallen nature. I've spent a night in jail once, lost my driver's license, lost friendships, hurt people's feelings, and this is all just what I have done in my own life. I have paid for these sins and I will continue to pay for them here on earth, but in my repentance, I know that Jesus has forgiven me and borne the weight of me. It is only when I became more aware of what Jesus has done and what he continues to do, do I realize the love I have for my Church.
And the life of the Church was entrusted to our priests. Some have made some most grievous errors and others live so heroically for Jesus. And they all bring us the Eucharist, Jesus. Despite the world, I beg the Lord to send us more priests. The harvest is plenty and the laborers are few.
So ask the master of the harvest
to send out more laborers for his harvest. - Matthew 9:37-38
A few days ago, the Holy Father, Pope Francis met with survivors of priestly abuse. Each person he met privately with for 30 minutes. He then begged them all for forgiveness. Some in the media have quickly condemned the delay of this action and others condemned that he hasn't done anything.
I love my Church. I think that I may love my Church more than anything on Earth. I think I only Jesus more than I love my Church. The Church is the bride of Christ. I love my Church.
It is very difficult for me to read stories and commentaries that are full of hostility and aggression to the Church. The Catholic Church encounters so much anger every day. I think it is quite disheartening to see that there are people who actively persecute Christians, especially Catholics. The current struggles in Israel, Iraq, Syria, Ethiopia, North Korea, China and many other countries on the issue of religion and religious freedom should constantly remind us that our world is hostile to the name of Jesus.
My Church is my home. Through all of the trials and trepidations that I have had to encounter as an adult, the Church has been the rock and source of constancy in my life. I come to know and recognize the frailty of the human condition. I have come to know the harsh reality that comes with the inconsistency of support of people. I have, however, come to know the unfailing love of Jesus through the working of the Holy Spirit through the Church in my own life. This is not to say that I have encountered well intentioned people along the way, but they all form or conform either to the Church or to some sort of secular living. I have had people in the Church let me down. I have had people in the Church be everything to me and still continue to be so. There are people who have never been Catholic, or Christian, and they have let me down. There are people in my life who are not Christian but have demonstrated a deep care and regard for me that is reminiscent of the Church for me.
The Church is full of people who are sinners and hypocrites. This man is a sinner and a hypocrite. It is not in our sinfulness that makes us who we are, but only in the grace of God that gives us hope for an eternity in splendor. The beauty of forgiveness is that when we participate in forgiving somebody, we ourselves are forgiven. And God smiles. At the same time in asking for forgiveness, we take ownership and accountability of the sins we have committed. Whatever we may have to do to reconcile ourselves to our sin is the temporal reality of our fallen nature. I've spent a night in jail once, lost my driver's license, lost friendships, hurt people's feelings, and this is all just what I have done in my own life. I have paid for these sins and I will continue to pay for them here on earth, but in my repentance, I know that Jesus has forgiven me and borne the weight of me. It is only when I became more aware of what Jesus has done and what he continues to do, do I realize the love I have for my Church.
And the life of the Church was entrusted to our priests. Some have made some most grievous errors and others live so heroically for Jesus. And they all bring us the Eucharist, Jesus. Despite the world, I beg the Lord to send us more priests. The harvest is plenty and the laborers are few.
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