"The greatest
persecution of the church does not come from the enemies outside, but is born
from sin inside the church. ... The church has a profound need to relearn
penance, to accept purification, to learn on the one hand forgiveness but also
the necessity of justice." Pope Benedict XVI
The Church spoken
of by Paul in today’s scripture as the Bride of Christ, “holy and without
blemish,” may seem unreal, like a dream or a mist, in light of the recent
revelations of the darkness of sin hidden within the church. Christ suffers
again, crucified by the terrible sins that were committed against vulnerable
members of His Body. Catholics are shocked, at a loss how to react, perhaps
even ready to walk away from the Church.
But this has come to light at this time
for a reason. The light of Christ must shine in every dark corner of our broken
world to dispel the darkness and put an end to sin. The time for purification has come, when the
evildoers will be cast out and those who are crushed in spirit will be saved.
The just have cried out, and the LORD, who is close to the brokenhearted, will
rescue them (cf Ps 34:17-19). This
purification begins in the very heart of the Church, when each sinner repents,
when each victim is consoled, and when justice is done for every person who has
been hurt.
Christ suffered
and died to purify His Bride, the Church. His death was not in vain. Stay with
Him, He is present in the heart of His Church, in the Eucharist. Even when sin
and death seem victorious, they are not. Jesus Christ is the Victor. He has
overcome sin; He has conquered death. Believe, and do not leave Him. He is the
Holy One of God, who has the words of eternal life. To whom else shall we go?
“Christ loved the church and
handed himself over for her to sanctify her… that he might present to himself
the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she
might be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27
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