April 21, 2015 Tuesday: 3rd Week of Easter
April 21, 2015 Tuesday: 3rd Week of Easter
It is interesting to ask people about their image of the Church. Pious people speak about the holiness of the Church, about a place of rest in the presence of the Lord. Many are more critical. They speak about the Church as always criticizing, as interfering too much in politics. Others think the Church is too powerful and rich. “Just look at those beautiful churches with all those treasures.
These answers contain a grain of truth. But seldom do people see the Church also as a suffering Church, persecuted throughout her long history until now in many countries. Forgotten also are those great figures in the Church who try to pattern their lives after Christ.
I think today’s first reading gives a realistic picture of the Church. There is Stephen. He is interfering in politics, for he speaks out against the political and religious leaders. He stands up for the truth. For that he is persecuted and killed, like so many martyrs from the first to the twelfth century. When you read his last words you cannot but realize that he patterns his death after that of Jesus, praying for his killers and offering his spirit to God. in life and in death he tried to imitate the Lord, a real disciples like the countless Christians who did so throughout Church history. Then a persecution begins but because of that the disciples stopped staying in one place, dispersed themselves all over the country and so spread the good news. So many times in Church history bad moments have turned into blessings. This should encourage us today not to abandon the Church because of scandals or bad examples. As long as we do not focus on the negative things only but, without ignoring them, try to see the Holy Spirit at work, we can contribute to the growth and spread of the Church. (Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD Bible Diary 2005)
It is interesting to ask people about their image of the Church. Pious people speak about the holiness of the Church, about a place of rest in the presence of the Lord. Many are more critical. They speak about the Church as always criticizing, as interfering too much in politics. Others think the Church is too powerful and rich. “Just look at those beautiful churches with all those treasures.
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| Catholic Church in Iraq after bombing |
These answers contain a grain of truth. But seldom do people see the Church also as a suffering Church, persecuted throughout her long history until now in many countries. Forgotten also are those great figures in the Church who try to pattern their lives after Christ.
I think today’s first reading gives a realistic picture of the Church. There is Stephen. He is interfering in politics, for he speaks out against the political and religious leaders. He stands up for the truth. For that he is persecuted and killed, like so many martyrs from the first to the twelfth century. When you read his last words you cannot but realize that he patterns his death after that of Jesus, praying for his killers and offering his spirit to God. in life and in death he tried to imitate the Lord, a real disciples like the countless Christians who did so throughout Church history. Then a persecution begins but because of that the disciples stopped staying in one place, dispersed themselves all over the country and so spread the good news. So many times in Church history bad moments have turned into blessings. This should encourage us today not to abandon the Church because of scandals or bad examples. As long as we do not focus on the negative things only but, without ignoring them, try to see the Holy Spirit at work, we can contribute to the growth and spread of the Church. (Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD Bible Diary 2005)
